Classes at Cape Peninsula University of Technology have been suspended for this week.
This comes as the university decided to suspend activities at all six Cape Town campuses following another day of unrest at the Bellville campus Tuesday.
On Wednesday, private security guards and the police were patrolling the campus.
This comes after protesters turned violent and broke windows, burnt rubble on the campus roads, torched a building and a mobile kitchen was completely gutted by fire.
Torched a building and a mobile kitchen. Picture: Velani Ludidi CPUT says students protested despite the university responding to their memorandum of demands which includes shuttles for township students, more residences, a new catering company, and lifting suspensions on
students.
But Sikelela Msizazwe, the SRC secretary at Bellville campus, says CPUT did not respond.
“That was not a response but the vice-chancellor was simply telling us who we should direct our demands to.”
He said their demands date back to last year but were never addressed by the
university.
“When we opened earlier this year, we found ourselves in a situation where students were sleeping in offices and toilets.
“Instead of meeting with us, they respond with violence. We know that violence is money to them as they have shares in these private
security companies.”
UNSAFE: Students torched CPUT Bellville buildings A student who asked to remain anonymous says some of them are being held ransom.
“These are not new matters, every year it’s the same problems and some of us want to study so that we can leave this place.”
But Sifikile Beyi, communications officer of the Bellville SRC, says no one is being forced to join the protests.
“Every student understands our struggle, there is no student that is forced to join the protest,” he said, adding they will not stop until their demands are met.
SUSPENDED: Classes at all six campuses have been halted. Picture: Velani Ludidi
CPUT spokesperson Lauren Kansely says due to safety concerns, they had to suspend classes.
“A decision to suspend university activities for the rest of the week as a result of ongoing violent protests has been taken by the executive management of the CPUT,” she says.
“The decision was not taken lightly but the safety of our staff and students is our top priority and we hope to resume operations in the new week.”