Staff Reporter
A first-year student at the Central University of Technology (CUT) is facing a charge of attempted arson after he tried to burn a building the institution’s Bloemfontein campus in the early hours of Thursday.
A statement sent out by the university on Friday said the student and an alleged accomplice tried to burn the BHP Building in the Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology using a homemade explosive.
“One suspect, who is a first-year student, was seen throwing a homemade bomb mixed with highly inflammable liquids at the BHP Building, the bottle missed the building hitting a tree instead,” read part of the statement.
The two students were spotted by security personnel before they fled.
“They both fled the scene of the crime in the direction of the Free State Psychiatric Hospital. One student was apprehended and then handed over to the police,” the statement added.
The targeted building is at the corner of Suid Street and President Brand Street.
CUT acting vice-chancellor and principal Professor Alfred Ngowi condemned the attempted act of arson and urged students not to be involved in acts of violence.
“I urge our students to desist from any form of violence as a means of resolving conflict,” he said.
“We are committed and eager to engage with student leaders on any matters of concern to resolve any perceived impasse through constructive engagement and persuasive reasoning.
“The only way of resolving our problems is through engagement with integrity and mutual respect, amongst ourselves.”
Ngowi said any violent act or damage to university property has no place in any institution of higher learning.
The university said it was unfortunate that a student would be involved in destroying university property, especially at such an early stage of their tertiary education.