Mar 23, 2010 6:37 PM| By
Academic activities at the Durban Institute of Technology were suspended after unhappy "volatile" students went on a rampage.
“All academic activities at the Durban Institute of Technology would be suspended until April 6,” the institution’s spokesman Bhekani Dlamini said.
Earlier, DUT said all its campuses would be temporarily closed as the situation had become “volatile” and there were fears for the safety of staff and students.
“This will give all the parties an opportunity to find much needed resolutions to the difficulties currently experienced by the institution.”
He said staff were still expected to report for duty on Wednesday.
The closure comes after 62 students were arrested for public violence during a protest on Tuesday morning.
“The students went on a rampage, throwing stones at police vehicles. One policeman was injured. The 62 students face charges of public violence,” Superintendent Vincent Mdunge said.
University property was vandalised, cars damaged and classes disrupted.
Those arrested would appear in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.
The institution also vowed to take disciplinary action against the suspects.
One student was injured when he was hit in the face by a rubber bullet.
Netcare 911 spokesman Jeff Wicks said protesters were marching on Mansfield Road when police fired rubber bullets at them.
“The student was treated and stabilised by paramedics at the scene before he was transported to hospital for further care.”
Police officers in a helicopter and on motorbikes kept a watchful eye on the protest.
Last week, the institution saw similar scenes when unhappy students embarked on protest action.
At the time, the university decided to close and reopen on Tuesday. But protests continued.
Students wanted the university to increase the number of buses to and from the university, and provide better and cheaper food on campus.
TimesLive
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