National
Police fire rubber bullets at students─── 13:41 Tue, 29 Jul 2014
Durban - Police fired rubber bullets at protesting students at the Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) in Durban on Tuesday.
The group of about 200 students threw bricks, rocks, and bottles at the police and used cupboard doors to shield themselves from the rubber bullets.
The group of about 200 students threw bricks, rocks, and bottles at the police and used cupboard doors to shield themselves from the rubber bullets.
Earlier, security guards fired paintball guns loaded with pink plastic balls in an attempt to disperse protesters.
The students had set a palm tree alight and appeared to have occupied one of the residences on the campus.
Some protesters wore balaclavas over their faces and sang protest songs.
Protests erupted at the MUT around midday on Tuesday, after lectures resumed earlier, amid a heavy police and security presence.
Lectures were suspended on Monday following protests by students who owed the university money and demanded that they be registered.
MUT spokesman Len Mzimela said on Monday an agreement had been reached with students owing more than R10,000 that they would be registered if they entered into negotiations on their outstanding debt.
Those protesting had refused to negotiate with the university.
Sapa
