UCT academic goes to police after protesters intimidate other students
Prof Harro von Blottnitz also says repeatedly setting off a fire alarm is a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act
A University of Cape Town (UCT) professor has gone to the Rondebosch Police Station in his personal capacity to lay charges against protesters. "This is exactly like if someone broke into my house‚" said Prof Harro von Blottnitz‚ deputy head of the chemical engineering department. "This is not a law-free zone‚ and whatever you do or don’t think of the protesters’ cause‚ this is not a law-free zone." This was after fire alarms were set off‚ and staff and research students were intimidated by protesters on Wednesday, who warned them: "This (chemical engineering building) is the most dangerous building on campus," because of the laboratories and substances housed there. The two charges laid were for interfering with equipment meant for health and safety purposes‚ and intimidation. Von Blottnitz said the tactic of repeatedly setting off the fire alarm when there was no fire was a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act of 1993.
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