WATCH: South African university transforms into a flaming battleground as protests turn ugly
Students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) in South Africa set up flaming barricades and pelted police with various missiles as demonstrations against fees spiralled into violence.
The skirmishes broke out as students staged protests against paying 15 percent of historic debt accrued by the university, as well as perceived financial exclusion.
— HYWI? (@yenzii_langa_) February 19, 2020
@CyrilRamaphosa@UKZN@DBE_KZN@DBE_SA@Julius_S_Malemapic.twitter.com/GClBKK3edi
— babyboytheone! (@IssaSdumario011) February 19, 2020
Eyewitness footage shows student protestors engaging in violent clashes with police and faculty members, having erected flaming barricades made of dormitory furniture.
Literally took this video from my room😭💀 pic.twitter.com/loYPOL5MiT
— HYWI? (@yenzii_langa_) February 19, 2020
This was conspicuously absent from #SONAdebate they'd rather debate about beating wives than addressing this ticking bomb #UKZNprotest#UKZNpic.twitter.com/xKZBmWh8kt
— king of Confesssions Keith (@KaConfessor) February 19, 2020
A professor, believed to be in his 70s, was attacked and subsequently taken to hospital for treatment, after reportedly being assaulted with a brick.
Mi7 vandalizing our windowns with stones early in the morning #UKZNpic.twitter.com/MwSjY4R0oG
— Thabiso Ngcamphalala (@soft_touch14) February 19, 2020
Staff have been advised to avoid the road that has been the major flashpoint of the clashes, but authorities have yet to close the university down, according to local media reports.
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