A fire truck caught fire and a firefighter was admitted to hospital, after violence erupted at the Alice campus of Lovedale College on Wednesday. Photo: Siphokazi Vuso
2 September 2016
Chaos erupted at Lovedale TVET College as angry students at the Alice campus damaged property, blocked the road for passing cars and attempted to burn their campus on Wednesday.
Security guards said students left a placard at the entrance gate that said: “Abetha amapolisa, siyatshisa isikolo”, meaning “If the police beat us, we are burning the school”. The guards said that the students burnt tires in front of the entrance gate. Police fired rubber bullets to disperse the protesters.
When GroundUp arrived at the scene the grass surrounding the campus was still burning. All students had left the campus.
Msekeli Mkhwibiso, chairperson of the Student Representative Council (SRC) on the Alice campus said that the students want their college to have practicals because there are no facilities for students to see the practical side of what they have learnt. He said they are also demanding R1,000 they were promised in relation to a bursary application.
He said students are not happy with the amount of money they get from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
He said after the protest all SRC members were given court interdicts. Students who resided in the school residences were asked to leave the campus until further notice.
“We want the Lovedale college management to hear our concerns and take them seriously, ” he said.
He said that in the brochure of the school, there is a promise that there will be driving lessons but that has never been implemented. He said there is also a facility for agriculture in the college that has never been used.
During the protest a firefighter was taken to hospital after being injured. He arrived at the scene attempting to stop a fire but the fire truck caught on fire. The firefighter was rescued while the truck burnt, according to the security guards.
All Lovedale staff had to leave the campus as they feared for their lives. Zingisa Ngxazonke, the principal of the college said the students started burning the college vehicle, then went to the campus’s historical hall. She said the police then arrived at the scene and arrested those who were doing this.
With regard to the bursary, she said there was a shortfall, and that it couldn’t accommodate all students. The college had applied and has been promised it will be given the funds, but is still waiting.
“We’ve heard the students’ complaints. The issue of refunds that the students are complaining about is also in process. We are working on getting everyone their refunds back. The problem here is that we are not patient,” she said.
Students had thrown stones at the principal’s house on campus and had broken the windows.
Eastern Cape police spokesperson, Khaya Tonjeni, said the police arrived and arrested 16 students for public disturbance, damaging property and obstructing the police.
“The students were detained and released on the same day. However, they will appear in court today [2 September],” said the spokesperson.
The police are continuing to patrol the campus.