[DEBATE] : (Fwd) North West Univ students burn res

[Patrick Bond]

Forty-nine varsity students arrested for arson
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA Sep 24 2008 15:34

Forty-nine students were arrested on Wednesday for allegedly setting 
fire to one of the residences at the Mafikeng Campus of the North West 
University, police said.

"Firefighters were called but the students started throwing stones at 
them while they tried to contain the fire," said spokesperson 
Superintendent Lesego Metsi. Police used rubber bullets to disperse the 
students and they ran to their hostel rooms.

Security guards at the university went to their rooms to arrest them. 
Four students were injured in the process and taken to hospital for 
treatment. They were discharged and arrested together with 45 others. 
All were charged with malicious damage to property and arson.

Meanwhile, the South African Broadcasting Corporation reported that all 
residences on the campus had been closed and students were asked to 
leave. More than 2 000 live on the campus. Students want vice-chancellor 
Dan Mofokeng to resign, claiming he is incompetent.

On Tuesday, two students were arrested after they allegedly set fire to 
a computer lab and the administration building at the university.

"They also shattered windows and tried to petrol bomb an ATM at the 
campus, but did not succeed," said Metsi. -- Sapa