By: Natasha Archary

Twelve students have been arrested in connection with setting fire to the sports center at Fort Hare University, hours before the start of the mid-year exams.
Students were protesting over complaints to the exam timetable on Sunday, 04 June, and torched the sports center as well as property.
Windows of the computer lab were broken, a shop on campus vandalised and several pieces of furniture were also destroyed.
According to the university, students were consulted ahead of the exams, and module clashes were brought to the attention of the examinations department by faculties and students.
The university claims adjustments were made and no formal complaints over the exam timetable was brought forward.
JP Roodt, spokesperson for the University of Fort Hare said an investigation has been launched to determine the events leading up to the arson at the institution.
“Allegations circulating social media of congested exam timetables as the basis for the violence on campuses are unfounded for several reasons.
Students and faculties were consulted ahead of the exams, exam module clashes were brought to the attention of the examinations department by faculties and students, and adjustments were made. No formal complaint over the exam timetable clashes were brought forward.”
JP Roodt, University of Fort Hare spokesperson
However reports suggest that students were not heard and there was no response from the university regarding their concerns.
Roodt says the foyer of the sports center was most affected by the blaze, and there are no reports of any injuries or fatalities.
On Monday, 05 June, 12 students, between the ages of 19 and 22 have since been arrested for malicious damage to property.
Twelve University of Fort Hare students have been arrested and charged with malicious damage to property after a sports centre was set alight at Alice campus.#sabcnews. pic.twitter.com/gSqEYLdkff
— Lubabalo Dada (@Lubabalo_Dada) June 5, 2023
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