Earlier in the day, a group of 30 students erected a corrugated iron shack on campus, complete with portaloo, in protest over a shortage of student accommodation.

The area was cordoned off with red and white danger tape, with handmade signs warning, “Beware of Monkeys” and “This is the state of the nation”.

This was before a group, led by student activist Masoxole Mlandu, marched to the bust of Jan Smuts outside Smuts Hall and then to Fuller Hall where a bust of the first female student to attend UCT has pride of place.

Both statues were defaced with spray paint.

“We were brutally murdered by this person. It is because of this man,” he said, referring to Smuts.

Fuller Hall residence is named after Barnard Fuller, who was the first female student at UCT.