The University of Fort Hare in the Eastern Cape says it estimates the cost of the damage to its infrastructure at between R200 million and R500 million amid the ongoing student unrest at both the East London and Alice Campuses.

The protests saw the torching of key buildings at the institution.

The protesting students are demanding SRC elections and the immediate resignation of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sakhela Buhlungu.

University spokesperson, JP Roodt, “We estimate damages in the region of R250 million to R500 million, with full restoration to take up to two years.

The university emphasises that last night’s arson attacks were deliberate, strategically planned and may have involved capturing and involving members the university’s student leadership structure and their followers. Among the facilities set alight were the main administration block, which housed examination papers and the wing of the building housing the HR department that contained employee records.”

Meanwhile, students at the Qwaqwa campus have joined their counterparts at two of the institutions’ campuses in Bloemfontein in their second day of protests.

The UFS Qwaqwa campus deputy president Thabang Molakeng says the university is charging off campus students transport fees even though some walk to campus.

“There are students who residing off campus they are affected by the is thing of private accommodation allowance. They didn’t apply for accommodation allowance on time because their landlords were not appearing on the university data base. Then the landlords’ names appeared on the data base but were not complete and now those students are fully funded by NSFAS and they are currently walking to campus because the institution is saying they must pay R2 115 for transport.”