News24.com | A second Cape Town university hit by protests: UWC classes moved online

UWC community pays tribute to slain student Kamva Dasi earlier this month.

• Academic classes have moved online amid ongoing student protests at the University of the Western Cape. 
• The protests, which began on Tuesday, highlight ongoing safety concerns of students following the death of Kamva Dasi. 
• The university's Open Day has also been postponed as a precautionary measure. 

Academic classes at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) have moved online amid ongoing student protests. The institution's open day scheduled for 13 May has also been postponed as a precautionary measure. 

Students have demonstrated following the death of third-year BCom student Kamva Dasi earlier this month. He was shot and killed in an armed robbery in Belhar. Protesters said Dasi's death highlighted ongoing safety concerns for students. 

A demonstration was held on Tuesday and, on Thursday, students protested at the Unibell residence off-campus, UWC spokesperson Gasant Abarder told News24. According to Abarder, campus security personnel were pepper-sprayed during Tuesday's protests. 

READ | Night of destruction at Western Cape university, campuses shut down following 'violent disruptions'

A student who requested to remain anonymous because of his leadership position said university management had not adequately addressed safety concerns for a long time. "We have been asking for more security, but nothing has changed.

Students have been in a bad position, and our safety is compromised when walking in the Belhar area. You often wonder if you would come back to campus alive," he said, adding that he had been robbed in October last year. He said students held a peaceful sit-in on Tuesday to amplify their safety concerns.

"Private security then came in their numbers and started to shoot teargas at students, forcing them to move away," he claimed. 

"Students feel unsafe, and the university is not doing enough. They are sending messages about not walking in the open field in Belhar, but Kamva was killed, and he was in a group. The safety and security of students has always been an issue, even when I was a first-year student in 2019," he added.

 Criminals have targeted private accommodation. The student leader said that academic activities could not continue when students felt unsafe. 

Previously, SRC president Mandla-Onke Natwaya said gangsterism and violence in the Belhar area were serious concerns but the university management had done little to address the students' worries.

According to Abarder, there was an ongoing dialogue between university management and the SRC about safety concerns. He said increased safety measures had been implemented, such as the revised shuttle routes to residences and campuses.

Other measures include the establishment of the safety forum comprising UWC, the City of Cape Town, the University of Technology (CPUT) management, Northlink College, community policing forums, neighbourhood watch, and the South African Police Service (SAPS). The UWC SRC was approached for comment, which will be added once received. 

Commenting on the students' protest, the police's Joseph Swartbooi said public order officers were deployed "on the outer perimeter" of the institution's campus.

"Reports suggested disgruntled students attacked SAPS members and the police members took action in a bid to disperse the unruly crowd," said Swartbooi.

"At this stage no one sustained any injuries. We can confirm that no suspects have been arrested."

Earlier on Thursday, the CPUT announced it had closed all of its campuses indefinitely following violent overnight protests in which buildings and vehicles were set alight.

CPUT said it made the decision to close the campuses indefinitely after the "continued violent disruptions, torching of buildings and wanton attacks on institutional infrastructure".

"Unruly students, acting in bad faith, with the sole purpose of making the university dysfunctional, have left management with no other choice but to act swiftly and decisively. The safety of staff and students is our primary concern at this stage," said CPUT management.

A group of around 1 000 students protested against a decision to discontinue the National Student Financial Aid Scheme allowances.

They also complained of a lack of accommodation and the news that NSFAS-approved students who had less than 60 studying credits were no longer eligible for a range of allowances.