Three students from the University of Venda (Univen) are expected to appear before the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court following their arrest in connection with last week’s protest action at the institution. In the meantime, it has been announced that academic activities at Univen will resume on Monday following the temporary suspension of the student strike.
According to the South African Police Service in Limpopo, the unrest began on Sunday night, 3 May, when students allegedly embarked on demonstrations over grievances with the university’s management.
Police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said protesting students allegedly blocked roads leading into the university and vandalised road signs during the unrest.
Members of the Public Order Policing unit were deployed to monitor the situation and maintain law and order on campus.
Students also handed over a memorandum of demands to university management on Tuesday, 5 May.
Police confirmed that three students, aged between 18 and 26, were arrested on charges relating to public violence and contravention of the Road Traffic Act.
The suspects were initially scheduled to appear before the Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 8 May. Authorities later transferred the matter to Polokwane for safety reasons.
Police said no state vehicles were damaged during the protest action and added that investigations were continuing.
In the meantime, Univen’s academic activities will resume on Monday, 11 May, following the temporary suspension of the student strike. This was confirmed in a statement issued today (8 May) by the university’s director of marketing, branding and communication, Dr TV Dzaga.
According to the statement, the decision follows engagements between university management and student leadership, which resulted in students agreeing to temporarily suspend the strike action that had disrupted activities on campus since earlier this week.
Management welcomed the development, describing it as a positive step towards restoring stability and ensuring that teaching, learning, research and student life continue without further interruption.
The university also thanked staff members, students and stakeholders for their patience and cooperation during the period of unrest.