Africa-Press – South-Africa. An examination venue was burnt down during student protests at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Pietermaritzburg campus.
According to Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Blade Nzimande, the William O’Brien examination venue was burnt down in the early hours of Tuesday morning and the arson is believed to be linked to ongoing student protests against the National Student Financial Aid scheme’s new direct payment method.
Nzimande said a case of public violence had been opened and the university was cooperating with law enforcement agencies.
“These are pure acts of criminality, and those who are behind them must be identified, shamed and arrested irrespective of who they are,” said Nzimande.
He said there had also been reports of staff and students being intimidated during the protest.
Nzimande called on the student body to work together with the university management and police to identify those behind the arson.
“Should it be established that there are students behind these criminal acts, they must be subjected to the university’s internal disciplinary processes because arson, vandalism and intimidation are counter-revolutionary,” said Nzimande.
He said his department was investing more than R8 billion to improve infrastructure at 26 universities – which is one of the reasons the “government will not tolerate” attacks on university buildings.
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