VUT obtains court interdict against protesters
The Vaal University of Technology (VUT) has obtained a court interdict barring students from protesting at its Vanderbijlpark campus following the torching of buildings and vandalism allegedly by protesters.
Earlier, Vice Chancellor and Principal Irene Moutlana said the protest were being led by the institution’s Student Representative Council (SRC).
Lectures were suspended after some of the buildings were torched and vandalised in the aftermath of a confrontation between protesters and campus security.
The university said the interdict, effective on Thursday, prohibits protests within a kilometre radius from the campus, prohibits intimidation of non-striking students and staff. The interdict also prohibits the obstruction of access to the university premises.
The SRC, led by the Economic Freedom Fighters Student Command (EFFSC), has until next week Friday to inform the court why the interdict should not be made permanent.
Protesting students demanded the withdrawal of criminal charges against students accused of damaging property and causing grievous bodily harm to fellow students. The protesters are also demanding, among other things, the lifting of the suspensions of the affected students and the removal of the outsourced campus security company.
A students’ residence was reduced to ashes on Wednesday night and an entertainment venue on the campus vandalised. Police maintained presence at the institution to reinforce the high court interdict.
Investigation into the violence are in progress but no arrests have been made, police said.