Emotional Scenes at South African Universities as #FeesMustFall Protests Continue
Nationwide scenes of violence and protests on university campuses have continued today in South Africa, with several witnesses reporting “police brutality” at Rhodes University, where rubber bullets were fired and 10 students were arrested at the Law Faculty. One social media user said: “I’m heart broken and speechless. Why are we shooting at children?” Another said: […]
Nationwide scenes of violence and protests on university campuses have continued today in South Africa, with several witnesses reporting “police brutality” at Rhodes University, where rubber bullets were fired and 10 students were arrested at the Law Faculty.
One social media user said: “I’m heart broken and speechless. Why are we shooting at children?”
Another said: “I honestly cried when I saw this VIDEO. The way they pulled that guy really reminded me of Sarafina.” The video can be seen below.
Classes at Rhodes remained suspended today for the sixth day. The Student Representative Council (SRC) had called for students to stay away while they discuss demands for free education with university management staff.
Police said the arrests took place because of malicious damage to property, and violating an interdict.
The damage to universities around the country, as a consequence of the protests, has been estimated at at least R600 million so far.
Rhodes University Arrests, 28 September 2016
Please be warned – there is swearing and highly emotional scenes.
Fort Hare University
Despite calls to return to university, students at Fort Hare – where protesters torched a building last week – are refusing to return. It’s been three weeks. Fort Hare may shutdown for the rest of the year.
University of Limpopo
Five students were arrested at the University of Limpopo in the past couple of days and some are believed to have been hospitalised. Not as much publicity has been given to Limpopo – where tyres and rubbish bins have been burnt – leading to the following tweet by Shandu van Niekerk which has gone viral:
“University of Limpopo with more than 70% poor students – we are the most affected by the fees but SA doesn’t care. we are not wits.”
Classes have been suspended indefinitely and students have been told to leave residences.
According to FeesWillFall account, TUT Polokwane, Seshego FET College and Univenda all shut down in solidarity.
University of Johannesburg (formerly RAU)
The university said it will remain open despite violent protests that have included throwing stones and rocks and blocking traffic outside Campus Square shopping mall. All media have been barred from entering the premises… but tonight some scenes were filmed – see below. A private security company has allegedly been using rocks and pepper spray to attack students and members of the media.
Scenes at UJ tonight:
Battle scene at #UJ Doornfontein. Students have covered private security at entrance with rock barrage pic.twitter.com/uAEyRu4AeD
— Jameel (@indie_impimpi) September 28, 2016
Here at UJ Doornfontein campus. Private security attack students with rocks, hit police, pepper sprayed journalists pic.twitter.com/AqTSlVTS3i
— Jameel (@indie_impimpi) September 28, 2016
University of Witwatersrand (Wits)
One staff worker at Wits is believed to have died as a consequence of the protests last week. Students embarked on a march this afternoon to the Chamber of Mines, bringing Joburg CBD to a standstill, to hand over a memorandum of demands.
They believe that the private sector can do more to alleviate the high costs of university fees including offering more bursaries.
University of Cape Town (UCT)
Classes were suspended for a week for “engagements with staff and students” to find possible solutions… but some protesters have been “behaving in an unlawful, intolerant and unacceptable manner” which makes the campus feel unsafe for staff and students who do want to study.
In a press conference, and press release on UCT’s site, Vice-Chancellor Dr Max Price stressed that the university needs to reopen on Monday 3 October or it will have dire consequences for UCT and the higher education sector as a whole, making finishing the 2016 academic year nigh impossible.
Students relying on passing this year’s final exams – in order to take up bursaries, job offers and to write professional qualification exams – will be unable to do so, he said.
The irony, said Price, is that poor students will suffer the most if the academic year cannot be finished.
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU)
Yesterday it emerged that parents of students affected by protesters are considering legal action against NMMU.
NMMU shut its doors on Monday and has suspended lectures until further notice.
The current protests were sparked by Education Minister Blade Nzimande’s announcement last week that universities could hike fees by up to 8%.