Student and journalist arrested during UKZN protests

30th September 2016 By: African News Agency

Student and journalist arrested during UKZN protests

Photo by: Reuters

A student and one journalist were arrested during protests that broke out on the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Westville campus on Friday.

Details of the arrests were unclear, but police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Thulani Zwane confirmed that there had been an arrest, but he could not provide further details.

News24 journalist Kaveel Singh was arrested and was taken to the Westville police station.

It is understood that police fired stun grenades and began dispersing the crowds that had gathered.

The protesting students earlier moved from lecture hall to lecture hall removing students from classes.

Despite the protests against university fees, it is understood that the university has remained open.

It was not immediately clear what charges Singh faced, but messaging via his cell phone from inside the police van Singh maintained that he had repeatedly identified himself as a journalist to the arresting officers.

It was also not clear what charges the student was facing, but there is a Durban High Court interdict against protests.

Comment could not immediately be obtained from the university.