IN PICS | PMB varsity exam hall torched during student protest

An examination hall at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) Pietermaritzburg campus was gutted by a fire allegedly started by protesting students on Monday night.

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A video sent to TimesLIVE shows huge flames spewing from the roof of the state-of-the-art facility.

Another building, next to the hall, was also damaged, with window panes and doors allegedly stoned.

When a TimesLIVE team visited the site on Tuesday, the roof was completely burnt and only the steel frame of the hall remained.

In a statement on Sunday evening, the EFF student command (EFFSC) in Pietermaritzburg said they were opposed to classes continuing as the university's management had not listened to their demands.

EFFSC branch chairperson Kwandile Mchunu said instead of extending the registration period, giving allowances to self-funded students and those affected by the 60-plus credit policy, and giving postgraduates food parcels, the institution had chosen to “militarise the campus with SAPS and Fidelity [personnel] to intimidate students so that students won't demonstrate or protest against any injustices they are faced with”.

Mchunu said classes would not commence if their demands were not met.

Mchunu said they had also called for the campus clinic to remain open 24/7 and to have a doctor present.  and an ambulance stationed on campus for emergencies.

According to sources, students held a mass meeting on Monday morning which was followed by a protest.

UKZN spokesperson Normah Zondo said contact teaching and learning resumed on most campuses on Monday after temporarily shifting to online teaching and learning from August 10.

However, she said, the Pietermaritzburg campus faced interruptions characterised by disruption of lectures, intimidation of students and staff and clashes between protesters and security personnel on campus.

“Tragically, last night [Monday], the William O’Brien examination venue became the target of a suspected arson attack, an event thought to be linked to the ongoing protests. Firefighters battled to extinguish the fire between 10pm last night and 4am this morning.

“We condemn these criminal and savage actions at the university. As previously stated, violence is completely antithetical to our academic mission. There is no justification for the destruction of university assets and infrastructure intended to serve future generations,” said Zondo.

She said matters related to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) were outside the jurisdiction of the university.

The institution would not succumb to pressure from those seeking to undermine its functioning, she added.

Zondo said a case of public violence had been opened and the university would initiate internal proceedings against anyone found to be involved in acts of violence, intimidation and destruction of property.

SAPS were yet to comment on the protest.

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