The beginning of the university academic year got off to a violent start at the University of KwaZulu-Natal when students torched burnt down the HIV support centre at the Durban, Howard College, campus. Metro police spokesperson Senior Superintendent Parboo Sewpersad is quoted in a Daily News report as saying that the building was set alight early on Monday morning. This happened as lectures were expected to start.
The report says the building is the second one to be set alight. Last week the Risk Management Services building at Westville campus was set alight allegedly by protesting students. The protests are over historical debt and student exclusions.
The violent protests and arson resulted in orientation programmes and registration being temporarily stopped. No arrests have yet been made.
Armed with rocks and sticks, students challenged campus security, reports News24. In a bid to disperse the crowd, police reportedly fired rubber bullets. It is alleged that a student was shot and has since been taken to hospital.
[link url="https://www.iol.co.za/dailynews/news/kwazulu-natal/ukzn-students-go-rampage-at-start-of-academic-year-torch-another-building-42013088?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=baobab&fbclid=IwAR3dNKwG5ZUyZ9tvYacuhqMwamJKOkdoFkKSLujA_R8VzDCc1zpFdx1uufY"]Full Daily News report[/link]
[link url="https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/ukzn-students-torch-hiv-support-centre-on-durban-campus-20200203"]Full News24 report[/link]
[link url="https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/pics-only-shell-left-of-hiv-support-centre-burnt-down-by-protesting-ukzn-students-20200204"]Pictures[/link]