UNESWA closed as students protest, journo assaulted

KWALUSENI – The University of Eswatini (UNESWA), Kwaluseni Campus, descended into chaos yesterday as students engaged in a protest.

An invasion of one of the dormitories the previous night by unknown men is said to have ignited anger among the students, who resolved to stage a protest.

Following the invasion, the students demanded improved security from the management of the institution. During the protest, a journalist from this publication who attempted to take photographs was assaulted.

Notably, around lunchtime, the UNESWA management issued an announcement ordering the immediate closure of both the Kwaluseni and Luyengo campuses.

Information gathered revealed that earlier in the week, the students had raised concerns over the university’s decision to reduce its number of security guards from 35 to just 11 — a move they said had exposed them to frequent robberies and unsafe conditions.

Tensions escalated yesterday morning after a suspected robber was allegedly caught inside one of the female dormitories.

It was gathered that the suspect, who was allegedly beaten by angry students before being handed over to university security, reportedly claimed that he had entered the dormitory ‘looking for a toilet’.

The students dismissed the excuse as ‘lame’, saying it highlighted how unsafe campus life had become.

The university’s 14 female residences are said to be the most affected, as only one or two guards patrol all the dormitories, while four others are stationed at the main gates — leaving several halls completely unmanned.

“There’s fear even moving from our rooms to the library or toilets,” said one female student. “We lock our doors at night, but we still don’t feel safe. The guards are too few, and anything can happen.”

The anger of the students is also said to have been fuelled by concerns over overcrowded hostels, delayed distribution of new furniture and the dismissal of maintenance staff following graduation. The students have accused management of ignoring their concerns despite repeated complaints about worsening security.

When making the announcement of closure, the management stated that the decision was made ‘out of concern for the safety of students, staff, and visitors’.

The students were ordered to vacate the campuses by 4pm, except for international ones, who were allowed to remain.

The memo also noted that Post-Graduate and IDE programmes would continue as scheduled and that the academic calendar remained unchanged.

Meanwhile, the attack on the journalist began when a faction of the’ students shouted the words ‘mshayeni, ningamyekeli!’ (‘beat him, don’t let him go!’).

The assault occurred near the university’s main gate, where close to 100 students were gathered. The journalist was assaulted with slaps, sticks and kicks as the crowd shouted that he ‘must be taught a lesson’.

Full article available in our publication.