Durban - Five Durban University of Technology students have been arrested and are expected in court on Thursday, including a student who was caught in the act of trying to torch an eThekwini Metro Police vehicle.
This comes after the academic deputy vice-chancellor’s building and a Durban University of Technology (DUT) vehicle were torched at the Steve Biko campus early on Wednesday - despite the university announcing an end to student protests.
DUT management, in a notice on its website last night, referred to the torching incidents as a “minor arson attack”.
National police spokeswoman, Brigadier Sally de Beer, who has been tasked with addressing all university media queries nationally, said a case of arson was being investigated by the Berea SAPS.
“A section of a building at the DUT Steve Biko campus was set alight at about 4am, possibly as a result of a petrol bomb. A case of arson has been opened at Berea police station,” she said.
No arrests had been made for torching the building, but De Beer confirmed five students had been arrested on Wednesday for contravening a court order and for attending an illegal gathering. She said one student would be charged with public violence after he was caught trying to set alight an eThekwini Metro Police vehicle on Wednesday.
The five accused were expected to appear in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.
Another student, arrested last week at DUT on charges of illegal gathering and public violence, was expected to appear separately after spending a week in jail.
The university said classes would resume “despite the attempted disruption of classes by a group of about 30 students at the ML Sultan campus” Wednesday morning.
“We have had a successful resumption of the academic programme in Durban and in Pietermaritzburg.
“As a result of the attempted disruption, police arrested six students who are currently in custody.
Students were urged to notify the campus protection team if they witnessed or had any knowledge of any criminal activity or suspicious behaviour which could threaten safety and security of the students and campus.
“Our campus protection team acted very quickly and these incidents were brought under control, before they could cause major damage to the university.
“Clearly, there is still a small element on campus who want to compromise the education of our students and to disrupt the academic programme.
“We must remain strong in the face of this criminal behaviour and we cannot allow a small group of arsonists to intimidate the entire university community,” the university said.
Daily News