Staff Reporter
Four students are expected to appear in the Phuthaditjhaba Magistrates Court this Thursday morning for alleged involvement in the burning of two buildings at the University of the Free State (UFS)’s QwaQwa campus on Monday night.
Eastern Free State police spokesperson Warrant Officer Mmako Mophiring said in a statement the four suspects have been charged with arson and malicious damage to property.
“The first suspect was arrested Monday on the scene,” he said.
“His arrest led to the arrest of other three suspects at villages outside the campus. The four suspects aged between 20 and 30 . . .”
More suspects are expected to be arrested in the coming days as police are still following several leads in relation to the attack.
The university said the two buildings, which housed the campus clinic and a computer laboratory, were almost completely destroyed, with damage to both buildings estimated at R35 million.
UFS rector and vice-chancellor Professor Francis Petersen has condemned what he described as “destructive and criminal behaviour” of the students.
It is alleged that students were unhappy about the payment of allowances they were due to receive from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) at the beginning of April.
To alleviate the situation, the university says it has offered students allowances for food and books amounting to more than R71 million while awaiting NSFAS to disburse the student allowances.
NSFAS indicated earlier this week that it will start paying students on Friday.