The University of Cape Town (UCT) attempted to resume activities under a heavy police presence after describing this week as the “point of not return” for saving the academic year.

While police be on hand‚ UCT moved to downgrade an incorrect alert that “several universities‚ including the University of Cape Town‚ have been declared a level-three security situation by the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service”.

This‚ management said‚ “in effect‚ means that the Public Order Police are in command of the campus”.

“We have now learnt that this is not correct. The universities have not been so declared‚” it said.

National Commissioner Lieutenant-General Khomotso Phahlane had on Monday said of the #FeesMustFall protests that the “deployment of members in and around the university precinct will remain unchanged until advised by the realisation of stability and order”.

He‚ however‚ stressed that “the SAPS has not taken over operational control of any institution of higher learning in the country”.

“The management and security within the institutions of higher learning remain the responsibility of the university concerned‚” he added.

UCT experienced a number of protest actions on campus on Monday‚ and urged “staff and students not to interfere with the work of members of SAPS and not to contribute to confrontations or any situation of conflict”. – TMG Digital