Watch: #UCTShutdown protestors trigger fire extinguishers, disrupt exams

It has been a tumultuous week for the University of Cape Town (UCT).

Although a wave of #FeesMustFall protests have swept through South Africa’s universities this month — including CPUT, the University of the Free State and the Tshwane University of Technology — #UCTShutdown protests this week propelled the institution’s disquiet into the spotlight.

A fresh spate of protests began Monday after students demanded a 0% increase to fees for the 2018 academic year. This comes after an 8% hike to fees in 2017.

Update:25 Oct 2017, 11:30
The developments regarding attempted shutdown of UCT
Read: https://t.co/Mj2vvyFtqa
Listen: https://t.co/5JipWNFa5k pic.twitter.com/bcGetDLikT

— UCT (@UCT_news) October 25, 2017

On Tuesday, students handed over a memorandum to UCT chancellor Max Price, calling the university to address the above, investigate the recent spate of suicides of UCT students, and the release of the Fees Commission report.

Notably, only government can release the latter.

#uctshutdown The list of demands put forward by @UCT_SRC 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/Sk5X1YMZ5o

— Daniel Hart (@DanPMHart) October 24, 2017

The UCT SRC on Wednesday vowed to shut down venues across campus, many of which were housing examinations and march on Parliament to demand the release of the report.

#UCTShutdown began trending on Monday, but remained a fixture on Twitter timelines in Cape Town on Wednesday, as the protests continued.

As a result of today’s protests, examinations were disrupted, faculties and buildings were shuttered, and fire extinguishers and fire alarms were triggered in some venues.

The Daily Vox journalist Mohammed Jameel Abdulla captured the scenes in one test venue.

Students enter exam venue, disrupting test. Fire extinguisher released. Test cancelled #uctshutdown pic.twitter.com/e167c0HGje

— Jameel (@indie_impimpi) October 25, 2017

Other videos, recorded by students and journalists, also emerged on Twitter.

Fire extinguisher let off in food court #uctshutdown @dailymaverick pic.twitter.com/BggHALTAZB

— Shaun Swingler (@shaunswingler) October 25, 2017

PGDA Tax 3 exam disrupted #UCTshutdown pic.twitter.com/Faued3LDLh

— Sis’Boo (@PunkyNgcobo) October 25, 2017

PD Hahn lecture interrupted by fire alarm #UCTShutdown #CaraboaCup @varsitynews pic.twitter.com/aOBUizSb4a

— Daniel de Gouveia. (@danieldegouvs17) October 25, 2017

UCT’s Varsity News captured the aftermath of a triggered fire extinguisher in the Fuller Hall residence.

A fire extinguisher has been set off in one of the block in Fuller Hall #UCTShutDown #FeesMustFall2017 pic.twitter.com/W7z7au9bdz

— VARSITY (@varsitynews) October 25, 2017

Some students have since made their way to Main Road from UCT’s Middle Campus in Rondebosch.

Police arrive. Bump protester, almost cause chaos.Jammie shuttle stopped. Stun grenades in officers hand on main road #UCTShutDown pic.twitter.com/z8AYLLuNUZ

— Anthony Molyneaux (@AJGMolyneaux) October 25, 2017

Students have reportedly continued their march to Parliament, where Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba is currently delivering the mid-term budget speech.

For realtime news on the #UCTShutdown and #FeesMustFall protests across Cape Town, follow this Twitter list.

Feature image: nancy smith via Flickr (CC BY 2.0, resized)