University Protests 2016

Police shot us without provocation - Pretoria University protesters

Karabo Ngoepe, News24

Pretoria - Protesters at the University of Pretoria on Tuesday accused police of attacking them without provocation.

One worker, who asked not to be named, told News24 they were singing and dancing when police started shooting rubber bullets at them.

"We are just calling for permanent jobs and a basic salary of R10 000. We don't have weapons and we were not fighting with them. We don't understand why they shot us," he said.

Another claimed they were walking on the campus when police opened fire on them without warning.

"We were walking behind the police when they stopped us and started shooting. We only had placards demanding a living wage, but they just shot us."

Gauteng police spokesperson Lieutenant Kay Makhubela said no rubber bullets were used.

"Temporary employees at the universities were protesting. They were requested to move off campus and they refused. Police had to use stun grenades to disperse them." Makhubela said the incident took place before noon and that after the stun grenades were fired, the crowd dispersed.
Economic Freedom Fighters' student command leader Mpho Morolane said they were given permission to be on campus.

"There was an agreement with the university management, particularly the Vice Chancellor, that there will be a discussion regarding insourcing, but as we entered, police started using stun grenades and rubber bullets," he said.

A number of people were injured and had to receive medical attention. Makhubela said police were not aware of any injuries.

By afternoon, hundreds of people were gathered outside the university. Another group was on campus negotiating with management.

"In the light of ongoing protest action at various universities in Gauteng, the University of Pretoria has been closed... to ensure the safety of staff, students and property. Protest action against outsourcing started at the University yesterday," the university said in a statement.

Talks between management and various groups about employing contract workers were continuing.

Morolane said workers would go home on Tuesday afternoon and return on Wednesday morning to continue protesting.



News24
Source
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/N...ation-pretoria-university-protesters-20160112
 
[video=youtube;MEr9Ir0WpYU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEr9Ir0WpYU&feature=youtu.be[/video]
 
The University has been made aware that some of the students who were evicted from the Ground Floor of Senate House this morning are claiming that they were manhandled, assaulted and sexually harassed by security.

The University vehemently denies these claims. As might be expected, during the eviction there were some scuffles. The eviction was captured on closed circuit television cameras and observed by managers. The University can make this footage available. A review of the footage will show that there is nothing there to support these claims. In fact the footage shows some protesters threatening others. Four security personnel were injured during the scuffles.

The students were asked to vacate the Ground Floor of Senate House and were served with written notices to do so. They were given time to leave but refused to do so and were evicted this morning.

These students were responsible for disrupting the registration process in Senate House yesterday. The occupation is unacceptable as it infringes on the rights of students who want to register, many of whom are the poorest of the poor that require assistance from the University. Many had travelled long distances from rural communities to register and were prevented from doing so.

The disruption halted face to face registrations at Wits for two days. Many students have registered online and telephonically, and continue to do so.

The University cannot allow a small group of students to stop the University’s registration processes and other activities. If we do so, we jeopardise the academic year and the futures of many young students who want to learn and prosper.

It is important to realise that we cannot destroy the University and make it unsustainable. This will impact more on the poor rather than rich and will reinforce the very inequalities that we are trying to address.

We respect the rights of those who wish to protest lawfully and peacefully without infringing on the rights of those who want to work and learn.

Senior Executive Team
Wits University
 
UJ's registration starts today. I'll be based at their Bunting Road Campus. Can confirm that they have extra security. Big burly guys in black stationed at all the gates.
 
[video=youtube;2pjy0DS4nbw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=138&v=2pjy0DS4nbw[/video]


From yesterday
 
Last edited:
Wits: No evidence of assault during Senate House eviction

JOHANNESBURG – Wits University has denied claims that students were assaulted and sexually harassed while being evicted from the Senate House at the institution’s main campus during a protest.

The SRC and #FeesMustFall movement have been demonstrating against the first fee payment and student debt this week and have occupied areas where first years are registering.

Students say some people were hospitalised while others were injured during the eviction.

More at:http://ewn.co.za/2016/01/13/Wits-de...tudents?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
 
Many students went to Unisa Florida, but right now the fvcking up started there as well.

Media Statement
13 January 2016
RE: Unisa statement on the continuing protest action at Unisa
The Unisa main campus at Muckleneuk, as well as the Sunnyside campus, have been closed today due to protest action. Protesters have blocked the entrances to both campuses making it impossible for most Unisa staff to gain access to the premises. To safeguard life and property and having assessed the situation, Unisa management has decided to close both the Muckleneuk and Sunnyside campuses for the day.
Security, catering and cleaning services have been interrupted and the registration activities at the Sunnyside campus have been severely impacted by the unprotected labour action and student protest on the campuses.
Yesterday (Tuesday, 12 January 2016), the Dispatch Department was ransacked by the protesting workers and students, resulting in the trashing of the facility and destruction of significant amounts of study material. This adverse behaviour will have consequences for the dispatch of tutorial packages, specifically causing delays in the delivery of the study material for students who are already registered for 2016. The university condemns this conduct in the strongest terms possible.
It must be placed on record that the workers participating in the unprotected labour action are not employees of the university. Rather, they comprise staff deployed on the Muckleneuk and Sunnyside campuses by the external service providers appointed to render the particular services at Unisa.
As far as the university is aware, the labour action is part of the protest action led by the EFF Student Command, arising from the dissatisfaction with the alleged lack of progress on the implementation of insourcing of currently-outsourced services, implementation of the ‘no fee’ increase directive by government as well as general student related issues.
The university wishes to highlight the following in respect of the issues in question:
Insourcing of currently-outsourced services
The Unisa Council, at its meeting on 4 December 2015, resolved and committed the university to the insourcing of currently-outsourced services. Council, however, acknowledged the complexity of the issues, particularly the possible contractual and labour constraints that would need to be investigated; and thus resolved that a multi-disciplinary task team of recognised stakeholders (including labour and the statutory student structures) be constituted and tasked with the responsibility of interrogating the issues and reaching solutions. The task team has been given a time frame of six months by Council to conclude its work and to ensure that the outsourced services are insourced. Unisa management reaffirms the university’s commitment to this process and to its conclusion within the stipulated timeframe.
Implementation of the ‘no fee’ increase directive
Like all universities, Unisa supports the “0% student fees increase” for 2016 and revised its budgets and resource allocation for the current year accordingly.
General student related issues
Unisa has also noted the issues raised relating to the 2016 registration process. It is emphasised that the problems pertaining to registration during this period were identified and management has put in place interventions to ensure that the successful applicants are able to register for the 2016 academic year. The university has communicated widely on this matter. Successful applicants are currently able to register on-line or at Unisa service centres across the country, except the Sunnyside campus, where the protesters have blocked access to the campus
‘It is regrettable that some of our colleagues and members of our student community would decide to embark on such action, unprotected and detrimental to the operations of the university; yet based on issues that have already been resolved. In particular, the blocking of access to registration centres is unwarranted and infringes on the rights of others to access study opportunities. We urge the protesters to desist from such action and the security, catering and cleaning personnel to respect their contractual obligations and return to their respective jobs immediately. We must also caution that the university will not tolerate any act of violence of damage to property and may be forced to institute a lock-out of the protesting group’, said Unisa Principal and Vice Chancellor, Professor Mandla Makhanya.
-Ends-
Issued by:
UNISA Media Affairs
Department: Corporate Communication and Marketing
 
Registration at Wits University continued today without disruption. First year students in the Faculty of Science registered without any disturbance. First year students in the Faculty of Humanities will register on Thursday, and in the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management on Friday.

“We are encouraging all first year students to continue to register online and telephonically for all Faculties,” says Carol Crosley, Registrar of Wits University. “Students who require assistance with online registration can call (011) 717-1888 or come in person to Hall 29 at Wits University.”

Wits University has implemented stringent security measure to ensure that the registration process is not disrupted. “The safety and security of students, staff, applicants and visitors to our campus is a priority and it is for this reason that we have deployed additional security at key points across our campuses,” says Crosley.

The University is committed to increasing access to higher education and in so doing, has put in place an arrangement for the first fee payment. “Students who cannot afford to pay the first instalment can fill in a form online indicating that they cannot pay, and the University will allow them to register,” explains Crosley. “The first fee payment is therefore not an obstacle to registration for any student.”

Regarding historical debt, for all students who were on NSFAS in 2015, an agreement has been reached with the state. As per a statement issued by the Presidency, the historical debt of all students who were on NSFAS in 2015 will be settled by the state.

“We look forward to welcoming students to Wits University this year,” concludes Crosley.

Read more at www.wits.ac.za
 
Student leaders walk out of meeting with Nzimande

Naledi Shange, News24

Johannesburg - Student leaders walked out of a meeting with Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande in Johannesburg on Thursday.

It was unclear whether the group had willingly left the venue or had been thrown out.

They had spent hours locked in a meeting with Nzimande where they had planned to render their demands.

The group did not want to immediately address the media.

They stood huddled in a group a short distance away where they held a discussion.

Earlier, the students had walked into the meeting claiming they wanted several issues clarified before the start of the academic year.

Despite disruptions at universities during scheduled registration at various universities this week, student leaders said it was not their intention to make institutions ungovernable.

They demanded, among other things, an end to financial exclusion, free registration, and a clearance of historical debt.

The students explained that this was the core of the Fees Must Fall movement. They were calling on all students who had qualified academically but who did not have funds for their studies, to be admitted to varsities.

#AccessMustRise

They also wanted all National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) issues to be addressed.

One of the student leaders, Busisiwe Mashiqa said, "[The] public must understand that NSFAS can never be a substitute for free education."

She also called for transparency into their system and a clearer understanding of how the funds were distributed to each student.

The students had not abandoned their initial #FeesMustFall campaign but instead elevated it to #AccessMustRise.

They said they would on Thursday be demanding that the minister give them a timeline on when free education will be implemented.

Another issue of concern for the students was student residences.

Student leaders called for quality student accommodation at all universities.

In addition, they stated their plight was not only for South African students but also for international students.

The students were also calling for the minister to address the issues of language barriers at some universities which they claimed hampered some students from progressing in certain institutions.

News24
Source
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/student-leaders-walk-out-of-meeting-with-nzimande-20160114
 
Stop protesting and go back to class, PYA tells students

Mpho Raborife, News24

Johannesburg - The Progressive Youth Alliance wants students to stop protesting, return to class and wait for a commission of inquiry appointed by President Jacob Zuma to come up with an outline plan on how government plans to meet their demand for free higher education.

This announcement was made on Thursday by leaders of the ANC Youth League, the SA Students Congress and the Young Communist League.

They called for an end to the protests, which had prevented first-years from registering at the University of Witwatersrand, the University of Pretoria and the University of Johannesburg earlier in the week. The protests were carried out allegedly by members of the #FeesMustFall movement.

"The PYA and the student body condemn these acts that undermine the legitimacy of the students' campaigns," it said in a statement.

It called on those who did not write their exams last year, to be allowed to write, and for those who needed to register to be allowed to do so.

"Students can no longer delay their studies... We will regroup ten months into the year, when the report on free higher education has been released to consider its contents," it said.
Zuma appointed a commission of inquiry to look into the feasibility of funding free higher education in the country. The commission would be chaired by Supreme Court of Appeal Judge Jonathan Heher.

The commission was given eight months to compile a report, and was expected to submit its final report to Zuma no later than two months after completing its work.

The PYA said it was aware that free education was the ultimate goal and said it would keep a close eye on government to ensure that it implemented this.

It also, however, pointed out that such a demand would not be met overnight.

The PYA urged students to be patient and await the outcomes of a commission.

"It will be ill-conceived and naïve to not go to class demanding free education, without giving government time to come with modalities on how this demand will be met."

The PYA said it was hopeful that by 2019, free higher education would be available to students from needy and poor backgrounds.

"All those who share our genuine aspiration for free education should similarly prepare and submit their inputs to the commission," it said. "There is a time for mass action with its attendant hashtags plus sound bites, but there is also time for sensible substantial input on what the campaign for free education is about."

News24
Source
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/N...-go-back-to-class-pya-tells-students-20160114
 
First sentence: "All students". Next sentence: "Black student". They've lost my attention already, they don't want equal rights, they just want.

Edit: as you pointed out, there are white students who also can't afford accommodation and fees, but we're the only country in the world that has special rights for the majority and doesn't protect the minority.

Be careful. They will say it is racist
 
When they get their way and have free absolutely everything then they will demand we start paying them just to be there.
 
When they get their way and have free absolutely everything then they will demand we start paying them just to be there.
Wait till they start working and can't figure out why their income tax is so much...
 
Nzimande hails student meeting as success, despite walkout

Naledi Shange

Johannesburg - While Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande hailed his meeting with SRC leaders as a success, cracks began to emerge after student leaders from various universities walked out of the meeting earlier in the day.

Speaking alongside a handful of students who had not left the meeting, Nzimande said he was confident that a resolution would be found and things would return to normal at universities.

"We are confident that many of these issues will be able to find one another," he said, adding that the aim was to stabilise institutions.

Addressing the media after their meeting, Nzimande said students had tabled their eight demands and they had resolved to establish a tripartite structure which would address the demands.

The tripartite structure would comprise students, vice chancellors and officials from the department of education.

The resolution to form the tripartite structure was however formed after more than half of the students had already walked out.

The walkout came after the students claimed their demands were not being met.

Wits SRC president Nompendulo Mkhatshwa said they felt there was no progress during the meeting. The meeting was a follow-up of a December meeting which was, in turn, a follow-up of another meeting held in October, she said.

"Our sentiment right now is that we were not engaged. We threw our demands, but we were not engaged. We wish there had been more thorough commitments [from the] side of the department," she said.

Another student leader from the University of Fort Hare agreed.

She added that they had been flown from one area to another, but they were returning to their respective universities empty-handed and without any resolutions in place.

Meanwhile, some of those who had stayed in the meeting expressed their disappointment.

"The majority of them [those who walked out] come from elite universities. We came from universities that are very far, with intentions to resolve issues," said Mashudu Nthulane of the University of Venda.

She said they would extend an olive branch to those who walked out so that they could all find a solution to the issues raised.

News24
Source
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/N...t-meeting-as-success-despite-walkout-20160114
 
#FeesMustFall: Different interests threaten strength of unity

CAPE TOWN - As student leaders under the banner 'Fees Must Fall' collectively put pressure on government to meet their demands, their unity appears to be taking strain.

Several SRC representatives walked out of a meeting with Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande yesterday, while those who stayed behind have agreed to the minister’s proposal on how to tackle their grievances.

Speaking after the meeting with Nzimande, student leaders said the minister had tried to divide their movement.

Political analyst Daniel Silke warns it's going to be difficult for the movement to remain cohesive because of the different interests and backgrounds.

“This is a movement that has come about in a very short space of time. There are different interests and different backgrounds to the student movement, in the composition of students from across the country. I would expect a degree of volatility in terms of the cohesiveness of the Fees Must Fall movement.”

But their strength, he says lies in their unity.

“To break that unity in some way or the other would certainly help minister Nzimande show up some of the more unrealistic demands coming from the Fees Must Fall movement.”

The students have collectively tabled eight demands: free registration and an end to financial exclusion.

More at:http://ewn.co.za/2016/01/15/Fees-Must-Fall-movement-s-unity-apparently-under-strain
 
Speaking after the meeting with Nzimande, student leaders said the minister had tried to divide their movement.

[video=youtube;keaDQe2Igrw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keaDQe2Igrw[/video]

:whistle:
 
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