Cape Town - Students from the Rhodes Must Fall movement went on the rampage at the University of Cape Town on Tuesday evening.
The students, frustrated with the housing crisis and other challenges, set historic paintings and a plaque from the Smuts Hall residence alight at the foot of Jameson stairs.
Other damaged included the torching of shuttle and a bakkie.
The bakkie in question belonged to the Plan Conservation Unit at UCT who used the vehicle to collect field data and help numerous students with the fieldwork.
A print out was placed on the vehicle for all the bystanders to see.
"This research vehicle was instrumental in helping numerous students do their fieldwork and ultimately graduate from UCT. 11 Phd students, 9 Masters students, 9 Honour students and 5 staff have benefited from the use of this vehicle," read the note.
“The vehicle also served to reach a remote Northern Cape community which was partnering with UCT researchers in gathering field data. The Plant Conservation Unit condemns this senseless act of vandalism.”
Eight students were arrested following the violent acts last night and appeared in Wynberg Magistrate's Court on Tuesday morning.
Seven of them were granted bail of R1 000 each while the other accused was granted bail of R800.
UCT’s Vice-Chancellor Max Price also addressed on the media on Wednesday stating that while the management respects the student’s right to protest, the university draws the line at criminality.
He also confirmed that 6 students have indeed been suspended from UCT following Tuesday night’s violence.
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