ANC condemns violent NWU protests

One of the torched buildings at the NWU in Mahikeng was reported to be the administration building, while the other was reported to be the science centre building. Picture: Twitter

One of the torched buildings at the NWU in Mahikeng was reported to be the administration building, while the other was reported to be the science centre building. Picture: Twitter

Published Feb 25, 2016

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Cape Town - Ruling party the ANC on Thursday condemned the violence and destruction witnessed at the North West University Mafikeng campus the day before and have called for immediate action from law enforcement.

“The [ANC] condemns in the harshest possible terms, the violence and destruction of property at the Mafikeng campus of the North West University,” said ANC national spokesperson Zizi Kodwa.

“We view the torching of a vehicle and burning of buildings as the work of misguided criminal elements and call on the law enforcement agencies to move swiftly to apprehend and charge those involved.”

On Wednesday, clashes broke out between students and university security, believed to have been sparked by the inauguration of a new Student Representative Council (SRC).

NWU had disbanded the previous SRC in January.

The clashes culminated in violence, rubber bullets, and the torching of a car, as well as two university buildings.

Since then, the university has ordered that all students leave campus immediately as it would be closed indefinitely.

Kodwa said that while there was no justification for the use of excessive force by the protection services at NWU Mafikeng, “vandalism and damage of university buildings goes beyond the limits of a 'right to protest'“.

He said that the party called on all to immediately resolve their grievances in a peaceful manner as to restore calm and return the university to its usual operations.

Kodwa concluded by saying that what happened at NWU was illustrative of “a failure of necessary leadership in dealing with disagreement from both students and management”.

African News Agency

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