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Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Blade Nzimande.
- Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Blade Nzimande has asked the university community to assist law enforcement agencies in their investigation into the burning of a residence.
- Nzimande also called on university rectors to tighten security on campuses.
- The SRC of the university distanced itself from the act.
Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister Blade Nzimande on Monday condemned the burning of the Oval Residence on the Westville campus of the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN).
Nzimande asked management to work with law enforcement agencies to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to the account.
The minister also asked the university staff and students to isolate, identify and expose those who continue to vandalize the institution’s property.
He said the university community should give law enforcement agencies the relevant information that would result in the arrest of the perpetrators.
A case of arson is being investigated.
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“Destruction of college property is a criminal offense and all who participate in such acts must be arrested and face the full power of the law.
“These are criminals who must be totally removed from our institutions. They do not deserve to be inside our institutions, but they belong to jail,” said Nzimande.
Nzimande said the university community needed to preserve and protect existing infrastructure while the government continued to invest billions in improving higher education and training facilities.
He called on the university principals to tighten security measures and protect staff members and students.
News24’s sister publication The Witness reported Monday that the university called the incident “funky and random“.
SRC president Sifiso Simelane also condemned the fire and disassociated himself from it. Simelane implored those responsible to “do the right thing” by surrendering to the police.
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