By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
University of Fort Hare management says a group of students had set fire to some parts of the campus a few hours before they were expected to sit for their mid-year exams.
Fort Hare spokesperson, JP Roodt, says a fire was set in the foyer of the indoor sports centre, damaging furniture while the university shop was vandalised.
Roodt says Fort Hare remains perplexed over the reasons for the event, saying social media allegations of a congested exam timetable as the reason for the campus violence, were unfounded.
He says following meetings on Sunday, University management decided to proceed with the original exam timetable.
Roodt says, however, that only the morning exam sessions for Monday on both Dikeni and East London campuses will be rescheduled to a later date that will be announced.
The afternoon exam sessions will continue with added security available for students wanting to write their exams.
The student body SASCO expressed their anger over undue pressure being placed on students, accusing management of turning a blind eye.
It accused the SRC of being captured by management calling them the most incompetent.
SASCO demands the exams be cancelled and that make-up assessments be organised, raising issues of connectivity.
Accommodation allowances have also been raised as an ongoing issue with SASCO claiming that students are being chased by landlords and some kicked out of their homes.
National spokesperson for the South African Union of Students (SAUS) Asive Dlanjwa said the alleged arson attack by students was “absolutely disgusting and brazen criminality”.
Dlanjwa said that those responsible for the fire and vandalisation have committed a crime against the poor and working class.
Police in Alice have since 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 properties.
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).