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The violent three-day protest action by University of Fort Hare students may cost the institution half a billion rand as a result of fire damage and vandalism.
The university confirmed this on Thursday after a dramatic week of violence in which three buildings were torched on the Dikeni and East London campuses.
The latest attack took place on the East London campus in the early hours on Thursday, when unidentified people damaged and set fire to the education block.
UFH vice-chancellor Sakhele Buhlungu announced the suspension of face-to-face academic activities and ordered the evacuation of students from university residences.
He was reacting to Wednesday’s fire in Dikeni, which damaged the administration block, the student centre, auditorium and HIV centre. On Monday, the university’s staff centre was also torched in Dikeni.
The protests were triggered by students who were at loggerheads with management over several issues, including the condition of residences, leadership of the university and student governance.
An inspection of the campus by the Daily Dispatch showed that the admin block was in ruins, after the building was engulfed in flames. The top floor of the agriculture building was also burnt.
The arson attacks happened despite the university obtaining a court order interdicting students from violent conduct.
Fort Hare spokesperson JP Roodt said: “UFH Properties and Services currently estimates damages in the region of R250-R500m, with full restoration expected to take up to two years.
“The university’s position on the devastating events is clear. Last night’s terror-style attacks were co-ordinated and [deliberately] sponsored anarchy.
“It was a declaration against progress, renewal and the many improvements brought about by our council, senior management and our staff, including increased research outputs, improved governance, new programme offerings and the stabilisation of UFH finances, that was also acknowledged today by the national parliament’s select committee on education, sciences and the creative industries.”
Roodt said despite the devastating blazes, there had been no deaths, and staff, students and service providers were safe.
“The institution is now executing a crisis-recovery plan that prioritises trauma counselling for staff and students and provides continuity for teaching and learning.”
Buhlungu’s evacuation order, which had a deadline of 5pm on Thursday, was met with mixed emotions by students on the Dikeni campus as some were left stranded with no transport money to return home.
Students, due to start writing their examinations on October 23, were also left in the dark as to whether the exams would take place. For now, classes continue online.
Roodt did not say how and when this year’s exams would happen.
On Thursday morning, hundreds of students were leaving the campus and crowding at the nearby taxi rank.
A final-year student from Bizana said a trip back home would require him to leave early to avoid arriving in the dark.
The Bachelor of Communications student said his usual fare home was R500.
“My mother is unemployed. Some of my peers had to book tickets without any financial plan. It is a difficult situation. I am still thinking of how I am going to get home.”
A second-year student said: “I do not live far away, but I do not have the money to get home.
“I have no choice but to risk my life and stay in res and see what will happen to me, because I have no other means.”
International students had been asked to liaise with the international office for evacuation support.
A Fort Hare statement said: “We appeal for calm, restraint and co-operation from all members of the university community during this period.
“The actions of a few have endangered the safety of the entire university community and disrupted the academic programme.”
On Thursday, police intensified their presence on campus and in surrounding areas to prevent further violence and protect the remaining infrastructure.
Eastern Cape police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Siphokazi Mawisa said since Tuesday, police had arrested 12 suspects, aged between 22 and 33, on charges of public violence and business burglary.
They appeared briefly in the Dikeni magistrate’s court and were expected to return on November 26.
Mawisa said after Wednesday night’s attack, “police swiftly responded and used rubber bullets to disperse the violent crowd. The situation remains tense, but officers continue to monitor the university closely to prevent further incidents”.
She confirmed that one student was injured after jumping from a bridge during the protests and four security officials who had been held hostage were rescued unharmed.
Security officers at the Dikeni campus said they were working alongside police to prevent further destruction.
One said: “We were helped by the police yesterday. Our role today is to monitor buildings that haven’t yet been damaged to make sure no more destruction happens.”
Higher education and training minister Buti Manamela has condemned the violence and announced immediate government intervention to help restore stability.
“The escalating unrest at the University of Fort Hare is deeply concerning. I have spoken with student representatives and implored them to de-escalate the situation and ensure that all protest action remains peaceful.”
Manamela said he had also requested a detailed de-escalation plan from the university council and confirmed that a ministerial and departmental team, led by Prof Ahmed Bawa, was already on the ground engaging with all parties, including student leaders, unions and institutional forums.
“We remain concerned about the destruction of property and acts of violence. Such actions rob future generations of learning opportunities and divert scarce resources from improving education.”
Fort Hare student political organisations have distanced themselves from the arson attacks on the university’s infrastructure.
“These actions do not represent the intentions or values of the student organisations, nor the wider student body,” a statement released jointly by the ANCYL, COPE SM, EFF YC, Pasma, Sasco, SCO, YBMM and YCLSA said.
Daily Dispatch
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