A CPUT student has appeared in court for attempted murder after security guards were locked inside a building that was set alight.
|||Cape Town - A Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) student appeared in court for attempted murder on Thursday.
Byron Dick is facing charges of attempted murder and arson after security guards were locked inside a building that was set alight.
.The 26-year-old was nabbed at the CPUT’s Bellville campus on Tuesday morning just hours after two security offices as well as the main gate at the institution were set alight, allegedly by #FeesMustFall protestors.
Three security guards who were locked in the burning security office were rushed to hospital.
They were treated for smoke inhalation and one suffered a head injury.
The three men have been discharged from hospital.
Dick, who is also accused of, public violence and contravening a high court order, appeared in the Bellville Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.
The case was postponed to next Thursday to give the State time to investigate. Prosecutor Stefan Venter asked the court to postpone the case so that he could verify Dick's alternative address in Stellenbosch.
He said the State needed to run profile checks on the accused.
Dick was one of the students which the university wanted interdicted last year.
The courtroom was packed with students who were present to show support.
Dick looked near tears when he heard he would have to spend the week in jail before a bail application could be launched.
CPUT spokeswoman Lauren Kansley said the university was still assessing the cost of the damage.
zodidi.dano@inl.co.za
Cape Argus and Daily Voice