Update
MOSSEL BAY NEWS - A 21-year-old man was arrested in Heiderand, Mossel Bay, today, 19 March, following a student protest regarding claims of decreased funding for accommodation by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
About 50 students gathered outside the entrance of the South Cape College in Kreupelhout Street and alleged that their accommodation allowance from NSFAS would decrease from R42 640 per annum to about R25 000 per annum.
Several students told Mossel Bay Advertiser that police had fired rubber bullets and stun grenades at them when they tried to cross Louis Fourie Road to make their way home at about 12:00 today.
Police spokesperson Sergeant Chris Spies said police used stun grenades to disperse the group.
He said that a public violence docket was opened "after unrest erupted".
Spies noted: "Reports available suggest that police were dispatched to the scene at about 06:00.
Reinforcements from the Public Order Policing (POP) Unit were later deployed to the area."
He added that the 21-year-old was arrested "on charges in terms of road traffic legislation". Spies said he would appear in court once he has been charged.
"POP members will remain in the area until the situation is stabilised," he said.
Follow-up questions were sent to the police regarding the firing of the stun grenades and claims by students that they were trying to cross the road to head home when they were fired.
The police reiterated their initial statement on the stun grenades.
Previous articles:
- Students claim that rubber bullets were fired at them
- Students picket at college campus in Mossel Bay
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