Police spokesperson Colonel Sibongile Soci said the students had been arrested on charges of malicious damage to property and theft. On Wednesday evening, protesting Fort Hare students started fires on the Alice campus, only two days before the university’s centenary celebrations are due to take place on Friday, May 20.The students claimed that university management had not met all of their demands.One of the demands was that students who did not live in residences on campus should receive allowances for accommodation and transport before the end of the first semester.

With regards to the accommodation and transport issue, Vice Chancellor Mvuyo Tom said the parties had agreed in a meeting on Wednesday that the matter would be suspended until it had been discussed by the university’s council.

A decision would be made afterwards. He said that the students had started the fires before receiving the report from the meeting between student representatives and management.

News24