KZN student protests: What you need to know

Protest action intensified last month, following higher education minister Blade Nzimande’s announcement of a proposed fee increment of up to 8% for the 2017 academic year.

At the four major KZN institutions – UKZN, DUT, MUT and UniZulu – protests have been characterised by violence, arson, student arrests, the suspension of academic programmes, and allegations of police brutality and sexual assault.

We take a look at some of the headline-making incidents that have occurred at these campuses in recent months.

The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN):

UKZN has been a focal point of student protests in the province since the start of the academic year, but unrest intensified early last month following the fees announcement.

Campuses were shut down and the September recess period moved forward, as the call for free higher education intensified.

While academic activities have resumed at all five UKZN campuses, the situation remains tense, with a visible police presence monitoring student activities.

Several students have been arrested for public violence and malicious damage to property – following violent demonstrations.

The university has also suffered more than R150-million in damage to infrastructure at its various campuses in recent months.

At Howard College, the law library and a nearby cafeteria were burnt down.

Whilst at the PMB campus, the William O’Brien residence was torched early last week.

Students there have accused police and security stationed at the campus of brutality.

Some have also alleged sexual assault by members of the police at their various residences, with rape charges laid at the Alexandra Police Station in Pietermaritzburg.

The Durban University of Technology (DUT): 

While lectures have resumed following numerous hiccups to the academic programme since early September, there is still a strong police presence at the various DUT campuses.

Students first lent their voices to the fees crisis in early August.

Since then, sporadic protests at the institution have intensified.

Students have been protesting outside the Steve Biko campus on an almost-daily basis, with some throwing stones at police and passing vehicles, and others burning tyres on the road to the entrance of the campus.

A number of students have been arrested for public violence.

Last week, following a meeting between DUT management, the SRC, and representatives of NSFAS and the higher education department, protests turned violent outside the Coastlands Hotel in Musgrave – where the closed meeting was taking place.

University management have been vocal about their concern for the safety of non-protesting students and academic staff, who have been physically removed from lecture halls and classrooms by those protesting at the institution.

The University of Zululand (UniZulu):

The institution has been plagued by non-fees scandals for months.

From ongoing staff strikes, allegations of fake degrees, a sex-for-marks scandal involving numerous lecturers, and claims that the vice-chancellor spent university funds lavishly, UniZulu has also been affected by student fees protests.

Last week, a security guard was assaulted at the main campus – allegedly by protesting students. He’s currently in a critical but stable condition in hospital.

Damage to university property has also been extensive.

Nine vehicles were set alight and two buildings razed during student unrest.

The academic programme has now resumed, following a temporary shutdown last month due to the spate of violence and vandalism at the institution – primarily at the KwaDlangezwa campus.

Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT):

In late-August, six buses were torched at the institution – following a protest by students over a lack of available buses to transport them to and from campus.

However, student unions distanced themselves from the arson attack, and no arrests have yet been made.

In mid-August, the university shut down after fees protests turned violent.

Student leaders at the university vowed to mobilize more student support in their ongoing protest for free education – if their demands were not met.

The academic programme has since resumed, following the earlier disruptions.