JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AA) – Protesting students have set ablaze a building and tents at the historic Fort Hare University in eastern South Africa, days before the institution’s centenary celebrations.
Eastern Cape Police Spokesman Lt. Khaya Tonjeni confirmed to Anadolu Agency that incidents of arson were reported Wednesday night at the institution when students went on a rampage.
The Fort Hare University, established in 1916, produced many African leaders, including Nelson Mandela, Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe, Tanzania’s late President Julius Nyerere and Zambia’s former President Kenneth Kaunda.
The university will hold its centenary celebrations Friday during which South African President Jacob Zuma and his Zimbabwean counterpart are expected to speak.
Protesting students are demanding that non-residents on campus be given transport and accommodation allowances before the end of this semester.
They are also demanding that all first-year students, who applied for funding be given loan forms to sign before the university holds its centenary celebrations.
Several tents constructed for the centenary celebrations were burnt down, a source at the university told Anadolu Agency.
Last Monday, arsonist burnt a 1,000-seat auditorium at the University of Johannesburg, causing damage estimated at $640,000.
This month protesters opposing a government decision to move them into a new municipality vented their anger by burning down 19 schools in the northern Limpopo province.
