Paintball guns have entered the arena as a stinging alternative to rubber bullets to deter rampaging students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) in Pietermaritzburg.
Speaking to TMG Digital on Monday‚ Nobin Kariem‚ the CEO of Mi7 Security Intelligence‚ a private security company contracted to UKZN‚ said the use of paintball guns was aimed at ensuring that no “serious bodily harm” was caused‚ but would stop protesters in their tracks.
“Our team uses batons‚ riot shields and paintball guns during these operations. Paintball guns do not cause any damage to the body. They just gives you a sting‚” Kariem said.
Academic activities at the university’s Pietermaritzburg campus were disrupted on Monday after protesting students threw faeces into lecture halls.
A university staff member said some students were scheduled to write tests on Monday morning‚ but these were disrupted by the “poo throwers“.
Earlier on Monday morning‚ firefighters were called to the William O’Brien residence which was set alight.
Kariem said the paintball guns‚ which cost approximately R5000 each‚ are meant to deter students but would not cause anyone to be hospitalised.
“We have one of the best track records. No student has been hospitalised or injured seriously by Mi7. They just give you a good sting so that you stop what you are doing‚” she said.
Spokesman for UKZN‚ Lesiba Seshoka‚ said that there would never be enough personnel to control the disorder and disruptions currently taking place at the institution.
“Even if you took all the Saps from Durban and brought them here‚ there still wouldn’t be enough security because the campus is so vast‚” Seshoka said.
“We don’t have the finances to bring in an adequate amount of security. It will cost the university a lot of money that it does not have at present.”
Journalist Zinhle Mngadi tweeted an image of the guards with paintball guns on campus where a building was torched on Monday‚ commenting: “RMS and MI7 security guards now searching the WOB residence which was torched this morning.”
- TMG Digital
Paintball guns - a stinging rebuke for protesting students
Paintball guns have entered the arena as a stinging alternative to rubber bullets to deter rampaging students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) in Pietermaritzburg.
Speaking to TMG Digital on Monday‚ Nobin Kariem‚ the CEO of Mi7 Security Intelligence‚ a private security company contracted to UKZN‚ said the use of paintball guns was aimed at ensuring that no “serious bodily harm” was caused‚ but would stop protesters in their tracks.
“Our team uses batons‚ riot shields and paintball guns during these operations. Paintball guns do not cause any damage to the body. They just gives you a sting‚” Kariem said.
Academic activities at the university’s Pietermaritzburg campus were disrupted on Monday after protesting students threw faeces into lecture halls.
A university staff member said some students were scheduled to write tests on Monday morning‚ but these were disrupted by the “poo throwers“.
Earlier on Monday morning‚ firefighters were called to the William O’Brien residence which was set alight.
Kariem said the paintball guns‚ which cost approximately R5000 each‚ are meant to deter students but would not cause anyone to be hospitalised.
“We have one of the best track records. No student has been hospitalised or injured seriously by Mi7. They just give you a good sting so that you stop what you are doing‚” she said.
Spokesman for UKZN‚ Lesiba Seshoka‚ said that there would never be enough personnel to control the disorder and disruptions currently taking place at the institution.
“Even if you took all the Saps from Durban and brought them here‚ there still wouldn’t be enough security because the campus is so vast‚” Seshoka said.
“We don’t have the finances to bring in an adequate amount of security. It will cost the university a lot of money that it does not have at present.”
Journalist Zinhle Mngadi tweeted an image of the guards with paintball guns on campus where a building was torched on Monday‚ commenting: “RMS and MI7 security guards now searching the WOB residence which was torched this morning.”
- TMG Digital
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos