Campus security at Rhodes University in Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape smothered two fires on Thursday morning at the university’s main administration building.
Vice chancellor Dr Sizwe Mabizela called the incident‚ which took place around 6.45am‚ an arson attempt in a statement.
“The incident occurred shortly after the building was unlocked for the day by a member of the Campus Protection Unit (CPU).
“The smell of the fire was quickly noticed by a CPU guard‚ and members of the Campus Protection Unit extinguished it before significant damage was done‚” he said.
The fires‚ at the south entrance to the university’s council chambers‚ are believed to have been started with an inflammable substance.
The police and the fire department in Grahamstown are investigating the fires‚ Mabizela said.
“The University condemns all forms of violence‚ arson and destruction of property‚” he said.
Student newspaper Activate reported that the area has been cordoned off.
Meanwhile chaos has erupted at the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) in the wake of fires started on its Vanderbijlpark campus on Wednesday night.
Police spokesperson Captain Fikile Funda‚ who was at the scene on Thursday‚ said students clashed with police officers as they refused to leave the campus.
Classes at VUT have been suspended indefinitely.
Suspected arson attempt at Rhodes University
Vice chancellor Dr Sizwe Mabizela called the incident‚ which took place around 6.45am‚ an arson attempt in a statement.
“The incident occurred shortly after the building was unlocked for the day by a member of the Campus Protection Unit (CPU).
“The smell of the fire was quickly noticed by a CPU guard‚ and members of the Campus Protection Unit extinguished it before significant damage was done‚” he said.
The fires‚ at the south entrance to the university’s council chambers‚ are believed to have been started with an inflammable substance.
The police and the fire department in Grahamstown are investigating the fires‚ Mabizela said.
“The University condemns all forms of violence‚ arson and destruction of property‚” he said.
Student newspaper Activate reported that the area has been cordoned off.
Meanwhile chaos has erupted at the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) in the wake of fires started on its Vanderbijlpark campus on Wednesday night.
Police spokesperson Captain Fikile Funda‚ who was at the scene on Thursday‚ said students clashed with police officers as they refused to leave the campus.
Classes at VUT have been suspended indefinitely.
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