Overview

• Six campus buildings were torched this week, forcing a shutdown from Thursday and destroying exam papers, research and artefacts.
• The Department of Higher Education estimates the damage at between R300 million and R500 million.
• Higher education minister Buti Manamela condemned the violence as criminal and said teaching should resume next week, including temporary online options if required.
• The university council meets Sunday to address governance and SRC disputes as students demand vice-chancellor Sakhela Buhlungu’s resignation, which management rejects.
• NSFAS ordered an immediate halt to evictions from accredited residences, while at the University of the Free State about 17 students were arrested, including two over an alleged petrol-bomb attempt.