University of Fort Hare protests lead to arrests and class suspensions

Lectures remain suspended at the University of Fort Hare’s Alice campus in the Eastern Cape due to ongoing student protests. The demonstrations center on deteriorating residence infrastructure, including leaking roofs and unmanageable sanitation issues that students claim have persisted for several years.

Protests have escalated into incidents of public violence, with reports of protesters clashing with security guards and police, throwing objects at vehicles, and setting campus buildings on fire. Two students have been arrested for alleged public violence and are scheduled to appear in the Alice Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has issued a warning that further property destruction or violence will result in police exercising powers under Section 48 of the Criminal Procedure Act, which allows for entry onto campus premises to effect arrests.