Protesting University of Fort Hare students yesterday took control of their main campus in Alice and set alight both entrances leading to the symbolic institution.
The entrances were reduced to a shell when more than 800 students clad in red Sasco and blue Daso T-shirts burnt their own mattresses, university office furniture, wooden doors and toiletries.
Not a single police van or officer was seen until 3pm when students barricaded the main road with rocks, rubbish bins, bricks and burning tyres.
The university’s private security guards were earlier pelted with stones and chased from their positions.
Students at the main campus were protesting against proposed tuition and residential fee increases. They are demanding that current tuition fees are not increased next year and want a review of the current R26000-a-year residence fee.
The ongoing protests have forced the university to postpone final examinations – due to start on Monday – to November 2.
Vice-Chancellor Dr Mvuyo Tom drove past his burning institution heading in the direction of Alice where he summoned Student Representative Council (SRC) leaders to an urgent meeting in the Nkonkobe Municipality building.
SRC president Busisiwe Mashiqa told the Dispatch: “He perceived the university grounds as being dangerous, hence he called the meeting at the municipality building.”
She blamed the vandalism on the slow response from management. “By late Wednesday night we had not received a communique from management on the way forward. They are burning because they are seeking attention from management.”
Mashiqa said for years UFH had taken financial decisions without the input of students. “There is no point in writing exams if you are not going to finish your degree or come back to varsity next year. We have 800 students who will not receive their results or register next year because they are in debt.”
Tom said as managers they were not able to take final decisions on fee matters.
“We are going to meet with the University Council next week to outline what would happen if we apply a 10% or 6% increment and how this will affect the provision of quality education within the institution,” he said.
A zero-percentage increase was not viable considering the economy and inflation, he said. “We will support the students in their cause for lower fees but the violence will not be supported.”
Work was suspended for the week.
Students set UFH ablaze
The entrances were reduced to a shell when more than 800 students clad in red Sasco and blue Daso T-shirts burnt their own mattresses, university office furniture, wooden doors and toiletries.
Not a single police van or officer was seen until 3pm when students barricaded the main road with rocks, rubbish bins, bricks and burning tyres.
The university’s private security guards were earlier pelted with stones and chased from their positions.
Students at the main campus were protesting against proposed tuition and residential fee increases. They are demanding that current tuition fees are not increased next year and want a review of the current R26000-a-year residence fee.
The ongoing protests have forced the university to postpone final examinations – due to start on Monday – to November 2.
Vice-Chancellor Dr Mvuyo Tom drove past his burning institution heading in the direction of Alice where he summoned Student Representative Council (SRC) leaders to an urgent meeting in the Nkonkobe Municipality building.
SRC president Busisiwe Mashiqa told the Dispatch: “He perceived the university grounds as being dangerous, hence he called the meeting at the municipality building.”
She blamed the vandalism on the slow response from management. “By late Wednesday night we had not received a communique from management on the way forward. They are burning because they are seeking attention from management.”
Mashiqa said for years UFH had taken financial decisions without the input of students. “There is no point in writing exams if you are not going to finish your degree or come back to varsity next year. We have 800 students who will not receive their results or register next year because they are in debt.”
Tom said as managers they were not able to take final decisions on fee matters.
“We are going to meet with the University Council next week to outline what would happen if we apply a 10% or 6% increment and how this will affect the provision of quality education within the institution,” he said.
A zero-percentage increase was not viable considering the economy and inflation, he said. “We will support the students in their cause for lower fees but the violence will not be supported.”
Work was suspended for the week.
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