5 October 2016

Dear colleagues and students

I regret to inform you that yesterday evening and early this morning protesting students attempted to reoccupy the Steve Biko
Students Union building.
The group of students were prevented from entering and occupying the building at approximately 16:30 yesterday, 4 October 2016.
They have been unlawfully occupying the building over the last two weeks. The UCT staff, that provide a number of services to
students from the building, were unable to continue work or to enter their offices during this time. The building was secured with
new locks and private security were placed at entrances to ensure the group did not reoccupy the building.
The group of protesters then gathered outside the Steve Biko Students Union building at around 18:00 and at some point after
midnight the group increased to about 200 people. They started throwing stones at the security staff and attacking security guards
with sticks. They stormed the building breaking doors (level 6) and windows (level 5) of the building. The security tried to protect the
building by forming a human chain but it was breeched and two students broke through and entered the building. Several petrol
bombs were also thrown starting fires in the P9 parking area outside the Steve Biko Students Union building.
Protesters then ran amok on upper campus setting several fires. Security tried to extinguish the fires and attempted to disperse the
group. One security officer was injured. The South African Police Services were called onto campus at approximately 01:00 and
members attempted to bring the situation under control. A member of SAPS was hit by several stones. Six stun grenades were
used. At 02:57 the fire was still burning on Jammie plaza. All other fires had been extinguished by this time. SAPS are still on
campus.
It is the universitys hope and intention to restore the situation on upper campus to an extent that the institution can open today,
Wednesday, 5 October 2016.
Sincerely
Gerda Kruger
Executive Director: Communication & Marketing Department

University of Cape Town

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