Student in court after CPUT guards locked in burning building

13 October 2016

Cape Town - A student arrested for his alleged involvement in locking two security guards in a burning building at CPUT appeared in the Bellville Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.

Byron Dick, 26, was arrested on Wednesday on charges of attempted murder, arson, public violence and contravening a High Court order, following early morning violence at the university's Bellville campus.

The case was postponed to November 20 during his brief appearance.

Three security guards have since been discharged from hospital after being treated for smoke inhalation and slight injuries.

Two buildings were set alight at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology’s (CPUT) Bellville campus, and one on its Cape Town campus.

The CPUT Fees Must Fall movement distanced itself from the property damage. It was "thuggery coming from rogue elements who wish to hijack and appropriate the good name of our genuine struggle", it said.

The group said it was committed to avoiding violence. The arson and vandalism were aimed at making it lose public sympathy and credibility and being committed by "charlatans and counter-revolutionaries".

On Tuesday, 19 students were arrested at CPUT's Bellville, Cape Town and Mowbray campuses after clashes with police.

Twelve would remain in custody for an additional week as police confirmed their alternative addresses. They were living on campus.

This article first appeared on News24, see here.