Rhodes suspends lectures as police arrest students

20 April 2016 - 13:51 By Adrienne Carlisle And David Macgregor
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Several protesting Rhodes University students were arrested during running skirmishes with police.

Students barricaded roads between the university and the city overnight and on Wednesday morning.

Police fired stun grenades into some of the barricades to make students move back.

Vice-chancellor Dr Sizwe Mabizela has stood between police and protestors at some venues.


However‚ angry students have confronted Mabizela‚ university registrar Steve Fourie and Rhodes finance head Dr Iain L’Ange‚ accusing them of having called in the police.

The students are protesting over what they call a rape culture at Rhodes and are demanding the institution does more to support students who are victimised.

The protests follow the publication on social media of 11 names of male students who‚ it is alleged‚ have sexually assaulted female students.

Mabizela has undertaken to strengthen mechanisms to support rape survivors at the institution and to review all policies to do with harassment and sexual violence.


But students say this is not enough.

“Have you ever been raped?” one student screamed at Fourie.

“What if it was your daughter?” another asked.

There were reports of police firing rubber bullets and teargas at students at some of the barricades. Police spokesperson Captain Mali Govender had not commented at the time of writing.

A Rhodes employee who did not wish to be named said small groups of students had vandalised cars in front of the main administration block.

“They have stabbed several tyres in the sidewalls‚” she said.

Rhodes spokesperson Catherine Deiner on Wednesday morning confirmed on social media that Mabizela had suspended all academic activities including lectures‚ tutorials and tests until further notice.

The situation remains extremely tense and volatile at the university.

TMG Digital/Daily Dispatch

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