Two University of Fort Hare students were arrested after allegedly stoning cars and trying to set a police van alight on the fourth day of protests at the Alice campus.
Police spokesperson Captain Majola Nkohli said the two, aged 19 and 23, were arrested on Friday.
“The arrests follow an incident in which the suspects allegedly threw objects at moving motor vehicles and attempted to set a police vehicle on fire,” Nkohli said.
Six motorists have since reported damage to their cars, and cases of malicious property damage have been opened.
The two are due to appear in the Alice Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Police said that if the violence continued, they would simply have no choice but to enter the campus to make more arrests.
They said they had the legal power to do so.
“The SAPS has reiterated that acts of public violence and the destruction of property will not be tolerated,” Nkohli said.
“The SAPS remains committed to upholding law and order, and calls on all students to refrain from unlawful conduct and to pursue any grievances through proper and peaceful channels.”
The arrests came on the fourth day of protests at the university’s Alice campus.
The university suspended in-person classes this week after students downed tools on Tuesday over residence problems dating back to 2025, the state of the buildings and what they say is inadequate security.
There have been reports of arson and road closures.
SRC representative Sinovuyo Ngqwangi said the situation could have been avoided had management been willing to hear the students out.
It is the third round of unrest at Alice this year.
Students shut the campus in February over unpaid meal and book allowances, unregistered students, a lack of permanent accommodation and power failures in residences, backed by a 22-point memorandum of demands.
In March they boycotted classes over the state of housing run by a private residence company.
Last October several buildings at Alice and East London, including the main administration block, were petrol-bombed during protests at which students demanded the resignation of vice-chancellor Professor Sakhela Buhlungu.
The university put the damage at between R250m and R500m.
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