Bus set alight at Wits University residence

18 February 2016 - 17:09 By TMG Digital

A bus was set alight at a Wits university res last night‚ as violence continue to mar student protests at South Africa’s leading universities. #Wits student bus burn to ashes in Parktown https://t.co/Xhb4Mj8Enx@WitsUniversity#witsuniversity@CityofJoburgZA@jozi117@PigSpotter— Ashley Lechman (@ironfistAsh) February 18, 2016Wit “The University confirms that a bus was set alight just after 11pm last night outside the Knockando Halls of Residence in Rockridge Road in Parktown‚” the University of the Witwatersrand said in a statement on Thursday.No one was hurt but the bus has been destroyed.No suspects have yet been identified.This comes after protest vandalism at the University of Cape Town this week‚ during which a Jammie shuttle bus was torched and vice-chancellor Max Price's office was petrol-bombed. In addition‚ artwork was burnt including of that of anti-apartheid activists.Wits management said: “The University strongly condemns this malicious damage of property and we will do whatever we can to bring the culprits responsible for this incident to book‚ in line with the University’s policies and procedures‚ and the law.“This act is a direct violation of the court interdict obtained by the University. Should the individuals be identified and if they are students‚ they will be suspended from the Wits campus immediately.”The Student Representative Council at Wits did not directly comment on the burnt bus on its Twitter feed.Instead‚ there was this brief response when Ryan James Smith @kingjames0611 tweeted: “Burning wits busses is not helping anyone especially not the poorer students @WitsUniversity @WitsSRC”‚ to which the #Access R10 Million ‏@WitsSRC responded “Fully concur”.Last night‚ the SRC stated: “We are aware of the situation at Knockando. No students have been harmed. The situation is under control”.Meanwhile‚ as it tries to ensure the safety of its staff‚ students and property‚ Wits said additional security officers have been deployed throughout campus.“These acts divert much-needed resources that we require for accommodation‚ food and academic resources to support and serve our students‚ particularly those who are poor‚” Wits noted. “We‚ as a University community‚ need to collectively act against these criminals – we must identify them and exclude them from our community immediately.”The university has opened a case at the Parkview Police Station...

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