Universities South Africa (USAf) estimates that the damage caused by the #FeesMustFall protests over the last year-and-a-half will cost around R700-R800 million to repair.<\/p>\n
USAf is working on estimates which incorporate the damages caused by the latest protests, which are continuing.<\/p>\n
In the latest incidents at Rhodes University, two exam venues and the tennis club were set alight.<\/p>\n
In Johannesburg, protesting students set alight vehicles \u2013 including a public bus and a police vehicle.<\/p>\n
MyBroadband asked South African universities how much damage they have suffered because of the #FeesMustFall campaign \u2013 the figures they, and the Department of Higher Education, supplied are detailed below.<\/p>\n
University of Johannesburg \u2013 R120,295,000<\/strong><\/p>\n Students burnt down UJ\u2019s auditorium in May 2016, causing an estimated R100 million in damages. They also burnt down a laboratory, which will cost approximately R20 million to repair.<\/p>\n Other damages include burning down three cleaner change rooms, a guard house, and an external property. Numerous properties were also vandalised.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the space of the last two weeks, we have had several arson incidents that were all fortunately detected early,\u201d said UJ.<\/p>\n The latest incidents include two lecture venues being damaged and windows being broken.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n University of KwaZulu-Natal \u2013 R82,000,000<\/strong><\/p>\n Protests continue at UKZN, and the R82,000,000 figure provided by the Department of Higher Education in April is higher now.<\/p>\n In September, protesters burnt down the law library at Howard College. In October, a coffee shop at the Howard campus was torched.<\/p>\n The William O\u2019Brien residence was also set alight.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n North West University \u2013 R54,046,169<\/strong><\/p>\n Damages at North West University occurred at its Mafikeng Campus. The Vaal Triangle Campus suffered a few broken windows, and there were no damage at the Potchefstroom Campus.<\/p>\n The damages between 21 and 30 October 2015 amounted to R743,734.<\/p>\n Damages that occurred between 15 and 25 February 2016 amounted to R52,602,435. This includes damages to the administration building, science centre, bursary office, entrance, and house parents\u2019 residence.<\/p>\n Damages on 20 September 2016 are estimated at R700,000, and include damage to the main gate, gate monitors, and cameras at the main entrance.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n University of the Western Cape \u2013 R46,000,000<\/strong><\/p>\n In April 2016, the Department of Higher Education said damage to UWC was R46,000,000. This figure does not include damages caused in 2016.<\/p>\n Last year, protesting students set alight two buildings at the university.<\/p>\n The latest damages include vandalising the electronics in buildings, broken windows, looting shops, graffiti, fire damage to buildings, and broken doors and gates.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University \u2013 R6,600,000<\/strong><\/p>\n Damages to NMMU since the #FeesMustFall movement began a year ago are estimated at R6.6 million.<\/p>\n In October, the Xanadu Melody clubhouse on the university\u2019s South Campus was torched.<\/p>\n According to The Herald, NMMU\u2019s South and North campuses \u201chave been left resembling war zones\u201d.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tshwane University of Technology \u2013 R5,073,747<\/strong><\/p>\n In April 2016, the Department of Higher Education said the damages to TUT were estimated at R5,073,747.<\/p>\n Recent protests saw students at the Pretoria West and Garankuwa campuses blocking entrances using burning tyres. These students also attacked taxi drivers and set cars alight.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n University of Zululand \u2013 R4,500,000<\/strong><\/p>\n In April 2016, the Department of Higher Education said damages to the University of Zululand were estimated at R4,500,000.<\/p>\n In September, several buildings at the University of Zululand were set alight and many vehicles torched.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n University of Cape Town \u2013 R3,200,000<\/strong><\/p>\n The total cost of damages caused by recent protest action, which started in September 2016, is yet to be determined.<\/p>\n The damages include a Toyota bakkie, used by students and researchers in the Geological Sciences Department, being destroyed by fire. Arson is suspected.<\/p>\n Vents from the specialised air filtration system worth millions and located in the Geological Sciences building took in fumes and smoke from the fire.<\/p>\n There has also been cases of broken doors and smashed windows. This week, four privately-owned vehicles were set alight.<\/p>\n In February 2016, the value of damage to property amounted to R3.2 million.<\/p>\n A Jammie shuttle bus and a bakkie, used by students, were burnt, while the Vice-Chancellor\u2019s office in the Bremner Building was petrol bombed.<\/p>\n Historic paintings of priceless cultural and historic value were destroyed, statues and signage were damaged, and a number of windows were smashed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Free State University \u2013 R2,800,000<\/strong><\/p>\n In April 2016, the Department of Higher Education said the damage to the university was R2,800,000.<\/p>\n In February, students damaged the statue of late politician Charles Robberts Swart.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n University of Witwatersrand \u2013 R2,044,000<\/strong><\/p>\n Wits suffered R332,000 in damages in 2015, including vandalised fire extinguishers, fire hydrants, fire hose reels, toilets, becnhes, bins, and windows; flooding; damage to light fittings; and graffiti.<\/p>\n Damages that occurred before September 2016 amounted to R412,000. The estimated cost of damages to a lecture room that was burnt are approximately R1.3 million.<\/p>\n The Umthombo Building Lecture Theatre on the Braamfontein Campus East was also set on fire.<\/p>\n University managers are still calculating the cost of repairing the damages that occurred due to protests which started in September 2016.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Rhodes University \u2013 R250,000+<\/strong><\/p>\n In April 2016, the Department of Higher Education said damage to Rhodes University was at an estimated R250,000.<\/p>\n This figure is set to climb after students burnt down two exam venues and a tennis club.<\/p>\n \u201cAt the moment, we are reviewing damages as they occur, but we do not have a rough estimate available yet,\u201d said Rhodes University.<\/p>\n This article was republished with permission from MyBroadband<\/a>.<\/p>\n #FeesMustFall leaders explain what decolonised education means<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Student killed in #FeesMustFall protests<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
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