UKZN counting the cost of vandalised campuses from student protests
The University of KwaZulu-Natal says unruly students have added to the varsities' debt problems by trashing campus property and torching other things during the protest action.
There were disruptions to the registration process this week when students went on the rampage at the Howard College and Westville campuses.
READ: UKZN suspends registration at Howard campus following fees protests
A student, who does not want to be named, from Howard says she and a few others were forced to join the protest.
"While we were trying to leave the campus, the members that were striking told us we must follow them. They were following us and shouting at us if we weren't going to follow them, because we were so scared we had no choice but to follow them."
A student's car was torched, and bins were set alight on Princess Alice Avenue in Glenwood.
ALSO READ: Four students arrested during violent UKZN protests
At Westville, a fire damaged the campus security building.
The UKZN's Ashton Bodrick says they've been holding talks with student representatives, so they don't understand the reason for the unrest.
"It is not fair for them to be trying to get our attention through burning or destroying the university when we are in talks with them at present. We are hoping that they would stop this and wait for us to complete our talks," he says.
Earlier this week, the SRC said it wanted students who were excluded over unpaid fees to be allowed to register and continue with their studies.
