Six police officers were injured when violence erupted at the University of Venda on Tuesday. Rioting students damaged a number of vehicles belonging to the police, who were trying to restore order.

The situation resulted in more than 40 students’ being arrested, facing charges of public violence, malicious damage to property and assault on police officers.

The situation got out of hand when students allegedly found a man who was taking a bath in the female residence. They then alleged that he was the one who was responsible for a spate of rapes and attempted rapes on the campus. The man, who is neither a student nor a staff member of the university, had allegedly in the past been found stealing students’ property.

An eyewitness who did not want to be named added: "Within a short space of time, a group of students gathered and threatened to kill the man. They started beating him up until the security officers intervened. The security officers could no longer control the chaotic situation and the student leadership alerted the police who came to arrest the suspect formally. The students did not want to hand over the man to the police officers and that was when all hell broke loose."

The eyewitness continued: "Realising that the six police officers who had arrived to take the man were being attacked, backup was summoned and that made the rioting students angrier. Students then attacked the police with stones while blocking the entrance to the university premises."

Mirror also learnt that the police officers and the suspect decided to take refuge in one of the staff offices. Students decided to barricade the door and the corridor to the office, baying for the suspect’s blood. The office door where the suspect was held was broken down. The suspect was later whisked off the campus through the Maungani gate. University property, including some of the buildings, was damaged during the riot. This comes after some of the buildings were recently renovated as per the recovery plan of the institution.

In a press statement issued by the acting vice-chancellor and principal, Dr Jim Leatt, he said the situation will be monitored and more information will be made available to the media as the situation evolves.

Regional police spokesperson Captain Mashudu Malelo confirmed the riots. "We went to the university and rescued the suspect. Ironically, the man was wanted by the police for a spate of housebreakings in Makwerela and the surrounding villages. We cannot say anything about the suspected rape because no one ever came to lay a charge against him. If there is someone who lays a charge, we will then investigate the allegations."

Malelo also confirmed that six police officers were injured and property, which includes police vehicles, was damaged. "More than 40 students were arrested for public violence, malicious damage to property and assault on police officers."