Midday update, 17 October 2016

Dear colleagues and students

We face a level of protest this morning which we are not able to contain with private security officers alone. The South African Police Service (SAPS) is on campus in an attempt to manage the situation.

As you are probably aware, groups of protesters are disrupting activities across middle and upper campus. Unlawful acts, such as breaking windows, forcing open locked doors and throwing human sewage, have been reported. There are further reports of intimidation, damage to property, violence, disruption and confrontation with security officers and we need the support of SAPS's Public Order Policing to manage the situation.

In addition, we face a situation where we have been informed that several universities, including UCT, have been declared a level-three security situation by the national commissioner of SAPS, which, in effect, means that the Public Order Police are in command of the situation. We appeal to staff and students not to interfere with the work of members of SAPS and not to contribute to confrontations or any situation of conflict.

Protest action began early this morning when protesters blocked the Jammie Shuttle stop outside Leo Marquard residence. Jammie Shuttle services have been suspended due to the actions of protesters. A radio was reportedly taken from a security guard. The dean of law ordered the Kramer Law building evacuated after a group of about 100 protesters broke a window, forced a door open, invaded the building and threw human sewage in the corridors. Protesters also briefly demonstrated inside the School of Economics building. SAPS used a stun grenade to disperse protesters outside the RW James building after confrontations were reported between protesters and security officers.

We urge students and staff members to remain calm and to move away from any areas where protest activity may put you at risk.

UCT remains committed to attempting to manage the situation so that the academic year can be completed successfully.

Please note that the above message is shared based on information that is currently available.

Communication and Marketing Department