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Fort Hare Closes Alice Campus After Arson That Torched Key Buildings

The Higher Education Minister has asked the university for a de-escalation plan to protect lives and infrastructure.

Overview

  • Police said protesters set alight the Administration block, Student Centre, Auditorium and HIV Centre after clashes with private security, causing significant damage.
  • University management declared the Alice campus unsafe, suspended all activities with immediate effect and instructed students to vacate residences.
  • Officers used rubber bullets to disperse crowds and rescued a security guard held hostage, with no injuries or arrests reported as monitoring continues.
  • The university stated that protesters defied a Bhisho High Court order that prohibited disruptive actions on campus.
  • Coverage reports the unrest was sparked by plans to appoint an interim SRC during governance changes, alongside calls for Vice-Chancellor Sakhela Buhlungu to resign.