WATCH: Nine vehicles damaged in fires at Unizulu
Tensions erupt at University of Zululand as staff strike reaches seventh week
As many as nine vehicles were set alight at the University of Zululand (Unizulu) main campus in KwaDlangezwa in the early hours of Monday morning.
Three buses, a double-cab and single cab bakkie, as well as a Quantum minibus and two Sprinters were damaged.
Spokesperson for the university, Gcina Nhleko confirmed the number of damaged vehicles, but could not comment on whether the fire was related to staff or student issues.
‘We will wait for police investigations to take their course before we make any determinations,’ Nhleko said.
‘The university is nevertheless mindful of its responsibility not to prejudice the state’s criminal case and hence it will not be prudent to make detailed information about the evidence in its possession public.’
Last week, two storerooms were razed to the ground.
Captain Sibusiso Guma, spokesman for Mtunzini SAPS, on Monday confirmed that officers were dispatched to investigate the scene of the fire, and would add this incident to the existing case of arson which is already under investigation.
‘At the moment we cannot say how many cars were burned as our members are still at the scene busy determining the extent of the fire,’ Guma said.
Meanwhile, a WhatsApp message did the rounds over the weekend calling on Unizulu students to go on strike today (Monday) ‘like students from other universities’.
Students have reported that while some classes continued unaffected, several faculties had cancelled their lectures.
‘Most of the faculties have been shut down now,’ one said.
The confusion surrounding the academic programme stems from the ongoing strike by NEHAWU staff.
The strike is today entering week seven as negotiations between the union and management over staff salaries and other benefits remain deadlocked.
A memo issued by the union on Monday (and seen by the Zululand Observer) has called for a vote of ‘no confidence’ in Vice Chancellor Professor Xoliswa Mtose and the ‘entire executive management team’.
According to the memo, picketing staff will meet today and tomorrow to draw up and hand over a memorandum to management.
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