We are under siege, say UKZN neighbours
Protesters, believed to be University of KwaZulu-Natal students, stoned cars and barricaded a major thoroughfare in Clare Estate in Durban.
|||Durban - Protesters, believed to be University of KwaZulu-Natal students, stoned cars and barricaded a major thoroughfare in Clare Estate, Durban, on Wednesday night.
The violence comes after a suspected torching early Wednesday of the main exam hall at UKZN’s Pietermaritzburg campus and a fire at a cafeteria at the Howard College campus in Durban.
Meanwhile, students have been ordered to leave the University of Zululand’s KwaDlangezwa campus because of violence.
Dennis Pillay, of the Clare Estate Social Civic Activist Association, said cars were stoned on O’Flaherty Road before students blocked the road with furniture, mattresses, couches and wheelie bins. These were set alight.
He said seven buildings on that road, a main thoroughfare to Westville and Reservoir Hills, provided student accommodation
“There were two simultaneous protests on the road. We are under siege,” Pillay said.
He said the students wanted free wi-fi and televisions in their accommodation blocks.
Police spokeswoman, Captain Nqobile Gwala, said about 200 students burnt tyres and blocked roads, but were dispersed.
She said a case of public violence was opened at Sydenham police station.
No injuries were reported and no arrests have been made.
The SRCs in Pietermaritzburg and Durban have distanced themselves from the incidents.
Sphelele Nguse, UKZN SRC president, Pietermaritzburg campus, said they did not know who was behind the arson at the campus.
Daily News