Protesting UCT students burn historic paintings, refuse to leave

They accused UCT of favouring white students over their black counterparts when allocating residence rooms.

FILE: #RhodesMustFall students protest against a lack of spaces in residences at UCT by erecting a shack on campus. Picture: Thomas Holder/EWN.

Ilze-Marie Le Roux | 1300 days ago

CAPE TOWN - Students occupying the steps of Jameson Hall on the University of Cape Town (UCT) campus are refusing to leave the area after burning paintings earlier today.

The paintings are believed to have represented the colonial era but further details aren't available.

#RhodesMustFall A conservation unit vehicle has been set alight on #UCT campus. @ThomHolder pic.twitter.com/HjKUortGY1
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) February 16, 2016

UCT students have also ignored a deadline to remove a shack placed there to highlight a lack of residences.

They have accused UCT of favouring white students over their black counterparts when allocating rooms at residences.

#RhodesMustFall Students have torched a Jammie Shuttle on Lower Campus. TH pic.twitter.com/mjwp7qRp0h
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) February 16, 2016

#RhodesMustFall the Fire Dept has arrived and put out the burning vehicle. @ThomHolder pic.twitter.com/VnulPd28PC
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) February 16, 2016

#RhodesMustFall Rubber bullets, flashbangs, Saps and Priv Security disperse students after they smash the shack. TH pic.twitter.com/tS3gC1IzlW
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) February 16, 2016

#RhodesMustFall Private security has begun extinguishing the fire on #UCT Campus with a fire hose. @ThomHolder pic.twitter.com/Gp2ckjEmmD
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) February 16, 2016

Fifty students are sitting on the steps of the the hall with public order police nearby.

Tonight, students are continuing to make speeches in front of the controversial shack.

16/02/15 - UCT Upper campus pic.twitter.com/ksBv9QjpwL

- minenhle (@MiniRadebe_xo) February 16, 2016

"@sofirstofall: so they went to what @UCT_news calls Jameson Hall and got those white men too #Shackville https://t.co/AtXknV2Ldk"
— Noronqo (@myaluza_ntsiki) February 16, 2016

UCT has called cops and we are unarmed but we are ready to die for what we believe in! They are loading guns mxm!! pic.twitter.com/nVUwhOYXFj
— #IABPDay 15 Oct.💃🏾 (@IAmAFallist) February 16, 2016

A while ago, a number of students began demolishing a shack erected on the Jameson Hall steps at UCT in response to a move by private security guards to demolish it themselves.

Public Order Police then dispersed the students using stun grenades. The protestors responded with a short barrage of stones after which the security guards began sweeping the campus, making two arrests.

A security vehicle had it windows smashed and shortly thereafter a UCT Conservation Unit vehicle was set on fire.

As another student was being arrested by police, a Jammie shuttle was set ablaze.

Currently there is a tense standoff between police and students, with some students hurling insults at police.

Timeline

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