A university of Fort Hare student is in hospital with a broken jaw and damaged teeth after he was allegedly shot by police at the institution’s Alice campus this week.
Phumelele Lavisa, a post-graduate student, was shot in the face at close range with what was believed to be a rubber bullet in the wake of violent demonstrations.
The bullet struck the musician and anthropology honours student in the chin, breaking his jaw.
He alleges police shot at him while he was standing outside a student residence on Thursday evening.
Violent clashes between students and police erupted at the Alice campus ahead of UFH’s centenary celebrations, held yesterday.
Lavisa, who had to walk to Alice’s Victoria Hospital because an ambulance could not enter the campus, has since been transferred to Frere Hospital, where he is to undergo surgery on Tuesday.
Speaking to Saturday Dispatch from his hospital bed yesterday, he said he and a small group were standing next to the residence, watching a stand-off between students and police, at 9.30pm.
“We were watching when a gunshot hit me in my chin. The first shot we heard is the one that hit me. When I realised I was shot, I stumbled but managed to run inside the residence.
“Inside I was assisted by others in trying to stop the heavy bleeding. They also called for an ambulance, but it could not get access due to riots on campus. Teargas canisters were also released, thus preventing us from leaving and getting medical attention.”
He said it was only after an hour-and-a-half, when things had calmed down, that he managed to get to hospital.
“My friends and I decided to walk to Victoria Hospital...We wrapped ourselves with wet towels to prevent being suffocated by teargas.
“All this time I was bleeding profusely, sweating and feeling cold at the same time. I also started to feel dizzy.”
Two other students were at the hospital. “One was a male student who had a deep cut above his kidney, while a female student was shot in the head with a rubber bullet.”
Lavisa said he would seek legal advice about his injury. — asandan@dispatch.co.za
(WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGE) Student shot in face at campus
Phumelele Lavisa, a post-graduate student, was shot in the face at close range with what was believed to be a rubber bullet in the wake of violent demonstrations.
The bullet struck the musician and anthropology honours student in the chin, breaking his jaw.
He alleges police shot at him while he was standing outside a student residence on Thursday evening.
Violent clashes between students and police erupted at the Alice campus ahead of UFH’s centenary celebrations, held yesterday.
Lavisa, who had to walk to Alice’s Victoria Hospital because an ambulance could not enter the campus, has since been transferred to Frere Hospital, where he is to undergo surgery on Tuesday.
Speaking to Saturday Dispatch from his hospital bed yesterday, he said he and a small group were standing next to the residence, watching a stand-off between students and police, at 9.30pm.
“We were watching when a gunshot hit me in my chin. The first shot we heard is the one that hit me. When I realised I was shot, I stumbled but managed to run inside the residence.
“Inside I was assisted by others in trying to stop the heavy bleeding. They also called for an ambulance, but it could not get access due to riots on campus. Teargas canisters were also released, thus preventing us from leaving and getting medical attention.”
He said it was only after an hour-and-a-half, when things had calmed down, that he managed to get to hospital.
“My friends and I decided to walk to Victoria Hospital...We wrapped ourselves with wet towels to prevent being suffocated by teargas.
“All this time I was bleeding profusely, sweating and feeling cold at the same time. I also started to feel dizzy.”
Two other students were at the hospital. “One was a male student who had a deep cut above his kidney, while a female student was shot in the head with a rubber bullet.”
Lavisa said he would seek legal advice about his injury. — asandan@dispatch.co.za
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