Manamela calls for de-escalation of violence at UFH after infrastructure damaged

Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela will highlight his plans to increase security at the University of Fort Hare following violent student protests.

The Alice campus in the Eastern Cape has been hit by violence, with two buildings set on fire on Wednesday.
 
Students started protesting over Vice-Chancellor Sakhela Buhlungu's alleged failure to deal with mismanagement at the institution.

The students are also not happy with the suspension of the SRC president and the institution's plan to appoint an interim student leader.

The minister will be briefing the media on Saturday in Pretoria on that, as well as the department's 2024/2025 annual report.

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Manamela has called for the de-escalation of violence after the university’s infrastructure was damaged.

Student organisations have denied responsibility for the burning of the administration block and the student affairs building.

In response, the university has stopped all operations and called for students to leave the premises by 5pm on Thursday.

Manamela's spokesperson, Matshepo Seedat, said that on his visit on Saturday, he will address stabilisation efforts and steps to address security and governance in the institution.

"Efforts that are being made towards restoring stability, the minister will also brief the media on the department's 2024/2025 annual reports."

More police have been deployed to monitor the situation.