Carlo Petersen and Lisa Isaacs
POLICE are investigating a case of assault after an Elsenburg Agricultural College lecturer allegedly smacked a student during protests this week.
Liphelo Mpumlwana said she was “ klapped” (smacked) by a lecturer outside the college’s Pecheron Hall as a violent protest erupted at the campus on Tuesday.
Students allegedly belonging to the EFF were caught on camera sjambokking other students during the protest against the language policy at the college.
The incident follows two weeks of nationwide student protests centred on transformation, racism, student politics and other university-related matters.
“I was toyi-toying outside the hall, and the lecturer and other white students were blocking the doorway or entrance to the hall. And when I was entering the hall, they started pushing me out,” Mpumlwana said.
“I joined the students in pushing to get into the hall when the lecturer klapped me, and after that, the white boys also started hitting me. Then a big fight broke out.
Mpumlwana said “protest mediators” broke up the fight and she then went to lodge a case of assault against the lecturer at the Stellenbosch police station.
Police spokesperson Frederick van Wyk confirmed that Mpumlwana had lodged a complaint and that police are investigating.
Elsenberg spokesperson Petro van Rhyn said college management had reached an agreement with roleplayers to halt protests on Wednesday night. He did not respond to the alleged hitting incident yesterday.
The EFF’s Melikhaya Xego said the party would monitor progress at the college. “This is what we wanted, including the fact that management has admitted its policies were not working,” he said, adding that a draft policy would be drawn up.