Rhodes vows to continue lectures, despite overnight chaos, arrests

18 October 2016

Grahamstown - Rhodes University has vowed to continue with its academic programme, despite overnight clashes during which three buildings and three service cars were damaged and a number of people were arrested.

According to the university, disruptions began on Monday evening and ended around 00:30 on Tuesday morning.

"In the early evening, protesters attempted to enter the Barratt lecture complex with the apparent intention of disrupting a test which was taking place. Glass doors to the complex were broken in the process.

"Protesters then moved to the library, where more glass was broken, before progressing to upper campus where, again, stones and rocks were thrown at windows and entrances.

"Extensive damage also occurred in the Biko Building. Three university service vehicles were overturned at the rear of the building."

The university said stun grenades and rubber bullets were used by members of the public order policing unit. A number of arrests were also made during the course of the evening, it added.

The university thanked all those who stayed up throughout the night, and into the morning, helping to clean up and remove broken glass, as well as those who continue to keep the academic programme going.

"We are extremely grateful to staff who continue to support us in keeping the academic programme running, the contribution of wardens and other staff who worked throughout the disruptions to calm their students in particular," it said.

Police could not immediately be reached for comment on the number of people arrested and what they had been charged with.

Student newspaper Activate tweeted that eight male students and two female students were arrested on Monday night.

This article first appeared on News24, see here.