The Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) students took to the streets on Monday demanding better living conditions in residences and solutions to poor administration regarding financial aid funding and other related issues.
According to reports students were burning tyres and damaging school property from as early as 8am.
Police Presence was heavy at the uMlazi campus which led to the arrest of six students.
Police spokesperson Captain Nqobile Gwala confirmed to ANA that about 70 students started protesting outside the institution at 8.30am.
“Five suspects have been arrested for public violence,” said Gwala. A sixth student is understood to have been arrested later in the day.
The University’s management later confirmed that 7 students in total had been arrested.
Reports claim that on Sunday night, students from the University of KwaZulu-Natal threw bed frames, mattresses and other objects from windows at a residence on Hospital Road in the South Beach area. They too were demanding improved living conditions and unblocking of students who have not been able to pay their loans.
During a press briefing the University said they had reached an agreement with the SRC even though there were some outstanding issues.
Mangosuthu University students took to the streets on Monday. File photo by: Doctor Ngcobo/ANA
Yet management could not confirm whether lectures would continue on Tuesday.
“Currently the academic program remains suspended but all other aspects of the university’s operations continue,” said the Vice-Chancellor Dr. Enoch Malaza.
Some of the students’ demands mentioned by the University in a statement were food and book allowances, extension of library and clinic hours to 24 hours, fee increments to be reversed and better accommodation for all students, including post-graduates that require it.
At the Durban University of Technology lectures could not resume as expected by management due to another protest that took place from the Steve Biko campus to the Durban City Hall with similar demands as the MUT students but also for justice for the slain student, Mlungisi Madonsela.
