University of Fort Hare students arrested for damaging university buildings

Police in Alice have arrested 12 students from the University of Fort Hare for malicious damage to property and business burglary.

According to police spokesperson Warrant Officer Majola Nkohli, the arrest comes after a group of students allegedly went amok, and looted a cafeteria and damaged several University of Fort Hare properties at the university’s main campus in Alice last night, June 4.

“On Sunday, June 4, at around 20:20 police were summoned to a complaint of a violent protest at the University of Fort Hare in Alice.

“At the scene, police arrested 12 students for malicious damage to property and business burglary after the University’s examination hall was slightly damaged, and its furniture was removed and torched just outside the hall. It is further said that a mob then went amok and damaged several surveillance camera systems and also looted the institution's cafeteria (shop),” said Nkohli.

It is believed that the mayhem started following an internal dispute about examinations.

The suspects, aged between 19 and 22 years old, are due to appear at Alice Magistrate's Court tomorrow, June 6 on charges of malicious damage to property, housebreaking and theft (business premises).

ISSUED BY SAPS