Rustenburg – At least 14 North West University students were injured during last week’s violence at the Mafikeng campus, the North West Community Safety and Transport Management Department said on Monday.
Spokesman Shuping Daddy Sebolecwe said the injured students were admitted to both the Victoria Hospital and Bophelong Provincial Hospital in Mahikeng.
“Nine students who suffered minor injuries were treated and discharged. Two students were shot, one on the buttocks and the other one was shot on the leg. One student was left blinded in his right eye after he was shot by a rubber bullet,” he said.
“A 21-year-old student who is highly expectant [pregnant] fell when she was running away and was hospitalised. The other 18-year-old student was hospitalised and treated for shock,” Sebolecwe said.
He said Community Safety and Transport Management MEC Gaoage Molapisi assembled a team led by the chief director for civilian oversight, Nikiwe Num, to pay a courtesy visit to the injured students at the two hospitals on Thursday last week.
Students were injured after clashes with private security guards at the campus last week.
According to University spokesman Koos Degenaar, the violence followed the inauguration of a newly appointed Campus Student Representative Council (CSRC).
“Just before the proceedings was about to start, a group of students, allegedly from the EFF [Economic Freedom Fighters] student command and supporters of the dissolved CSRC, started to disrupt the event. The initial demonstrations started outside the Great Hall, after which they proceeded inside, and disrupted the event by singing and shouting while speakers were addressing the students,” he said.
After the event, the temporarily suspended CSRC president, Mr Linda [Benz] Mabengwane, arrived on campus and addressed a group of students.
“Security deployed on campus then dispersed the crowd, which led to clashes between them and students. Security had to use teargas and rubber bullets to get the situation under control. The students were pelting security [guards] with stones, which led to further reactions by them,” he said.
“During the late afternoon, the situation flared up again and incidents were reported where students set fire to a motorcycle belonging to a staff member as well as a trailer belonging to the security company. It was also reported that the staff cafeteria was looted.”
“Students went on to set fire to various buildings on the campus, of which the administration building was the main target. This building was completely destroyed, along with all official records. Damages are estimated to run into millions of rands,” Degenaar said.
The campus was closed indefinitely on Wednesday, February 24 following the violence.
Students were advised to leave the campus immediately for their own safety, and return home.
African News Agency
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