Poo flung and stun grenades fired as UCT tries to salvage academic year

A number of protest actions were reported as universities in Cape Town teetered on the brink of “no return” if classes do not resume on Monday.

Students flung human waste on campus at the University of Cape Town (UCT) on Monday and clashed with security guards. Police used stun grenades to disperse the crowd and reports trickled in of at least one arrest on Monday morning.

Photographer Ashraf Hendricks posted: “Faeces thrown into the #uct Kramer building.”

Faeces thrown into the #uct Kramer building #Fees2017@GroundUp_Newspic.twitter.com/U2Uf7o8112

— Ashraf Hendricks (@AshrafRSA) October 17, 2016

Shaun Swingler ‏tweeted an image of protesters allegedly breaking into a building on campus and other people reported stun grenades going off.

Protesters break into RW James building on #UCT upper campus #UCTshutdown#FeesMustFall@Chronicle_Digipic.twitter.com/pnywNch7tg

— Shaun Swingler (@shaunswingler) October 17, 2016

UCT vice-chancellor Dr Max Price warned at the weekend that unless classes resumed on Monday‚ the institution would reach the “point of no return”.

“Our situation is this: If classes start on Monday‚ 17 October 2016‚ we can still save the teaching term and write the exams between 7 and 25 November. If we do not return on Monday‚ the academic term is lost and the consequences are absolutely dire. In other words‚ we are out of time.”

The Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) pushed ahead with plans to hold classes and write exams off-campus‚ but there was at least one violent action reported.

Nomawethu Solwandle tweeted: “Private security vehicle stoned and overturned at CPUT Bellville campus. Police on high alert. #SABCWC”.

Private security vehicle stoned and overturned at CPUT Bellville campus. Police on high alert. #SABCWCpic.twitter.com/x2qAB7peUz

— nomawethu solwandle (@noma_solwandle) October 17, 2016

CPUT issued a statement on Sunday saying that “plans to continue with some face-to-face classes‚ tests and final integrated summative assessments at the Wingfield Naval Base are at an advanced stage”.

“The institution is pushing ahead to complete the 2016 academic programme. The executive committees of Convocation and the Alumni Association met with students on Friday to find out what they wanted before normal university activities can be resumed.”

“One of the principle demands of students is for a General Assembly to be convened and discussions are currently underway to try and finalise the date‚ terms of reference‚ rules of engagement‚ and composition of the various stakeholder groups to attend such an assembly‚” said CPUT.

The University of the Western Cape planned to hold a “day of dialogue” on Monday amongst students and staff.

“The completion of the academic programme remains our main priority‚ hence we would like these conversations to‚ amongst others‚ help us find sustainable solutions to complete the academic programme without compromising the credibility of qualifications‚” said the university.