Thirteen Rhodes University students, aged between 19 and 23, are expected to make their first court appearance on Monday after being arrested for staging an unlawful protest during a graduation ceremony. The students were part of a group of over 100 protesters who gathered outside the 1820 Settlers Monument in Makhanda, where the university was hosting a graduation ceremony for its masters and PhD students.
The protest turned violent when police used stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd. Eastern Cape police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana confirmed the arrests and stated that the students had been charged with contravening a court order issued last week, which had barred them from continuing their protest action. The students were released on warning after their arrest.
According to Gantana, the public order policing unit had been deployed to the monument to maintain safety during the graduation ceremony. A group of roughly 100 protesters gathered in front of the graduation hall, and despite being given ample time and warnings by SAPS officials to disperse peacefully, the crowd refused to comply with the court order.
The high court had issued an order prohibiting any protest by the students that had the potential to disrupt the graduation ceremony. The students had taken to the streets since early last week to protest against Rhodes' proposed new fee payment protocol. The protest was suspended on Wednesday, and the university returned to normal academic operations after management and student leaders met to address the dispute.
The Rhodes student representative council (SRC) distanced itself from Friday's demonstration, urging students to refrain from further protest action. In a statement, the SRC noted that a silent protest was held at the monument, organised by an unidentified group of students, and reminded students to consider the risks associated with continuing with protest action while the interim interdict remained in place.
Rhodes spokesperson Olwethu Gwanya said the issues raised by protesting students were being addressed, and the university remained guided by the engagements and understandings reached with the SRC. Gwanya stated that the university shared the students' concerns and understood the financial conditions of its students, adding that they were working to address the recommendations made by the students.
One student, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed sadness over the arrest of fellow students, stating that they were "being manhandled by police [and] arrested, while they were just sitting down peacefully, and did not disrupt any operations." The incident has raised concerns about the safety of students and the handling of protests on campus.
Key points
- Thirteen Rhodes University students arrested during a graduation ceremony protest are set to appear in court on Monday.
- The students were arrested for contravening a court order that had barred them from continuing their protest action.
- The university has assured students that their concerns are being addressed and that they are working to find a resolution to the issues raised.
