Angry protesting students set the historical University of Fort Hare University (UFH) alight last night. It alleged that students are not happy with the congested exam schedules but the university says this is nothing new. 

UNIVERSITY INVESTIGATING THE INCIDENT

UFH spokesperson JP Roodt condemned the actions by the students and said the institution will launch an investigation into the incident. Roodt said the fire was started at the centre of the foyer at the Alice campus. He added that furniture, a university shop and windows of a computer lab were vandalised. "Students and faculties were consulted ahead of the exams; exam module clashes were brought to the attention of the examinations department by faculties and students, and adjustments were made; and there were no formal complaint over the exams timetable clashes," Roodt said.

CULPRITS WILL BE PUNISHED

Roodt said the university is busy obtaining eyewitness reports from students who witnessed the violence. "We are also reviewing social media posts ahead of the event and we are examining CCTV footage to identify perpetrators. The university is certainly not ruling out foul play or the deliberate sponsorship of student violence," Roodt added. He said exams will proceed as scheduled but morning sessions at the Alice and East London campuses will be postponed. "Starting from the afternoon session today, the rest of the university's exams will proceed as planned. The university will also deploy security to ensure the safety of our students whose rights to education have been infringed," Roodt said.