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Cops called onto UCT campus after students throw petrol bomb

UCT students burning artworks Picture Credit: SAcrimefighters ‏@SAcrimefighters
UCT students burning artworks Picture Credit: SAcrimefighters ‏@SAcrimefighters

Protesters threw petrol bombs after campus security tried to prevent them “unlawfully occupying” the Steve Biko Students’ Union building at the University of Cape Town (UCT) on Wednesday morning.

Police had to be called onto campus‚ and an officer was injured as they “attempted to bring the situation under control”.

Despite the violence‚ UCT’s Gerda Kruger said: “It is the university’s hope and intention to restore the situation on upper campus to an extent that the institution can open today‚ Wednesday.”

She said students “were prevented from entering and occupying the building at approximately 4.30pm” on Tuesday‚ and “at some point after midnight the group increased to about 200 people”.

“They started throwing stones at the security staff and attacking security guards with sticks. They stormed the building breaking doors and windows of the building‚” Kruger added.

“The security tried to protect the building by forming a human chain but it was breached and two students broke through and entered the building. Several petrol bombs were also thrown‚ starting fires in the P9 parking area outside the Steve Biko Students’ Union building.”

The SAPS were called onto campus at about 1am and “six stun grenades were used”.

 Kruger said: “At 2.57‚ the fire was still burning on Jammie plaza. All other fires had been extinguished by this time. SAPS are still on campus.”

 

 

– TMG Digital

 

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