Wits students protest over tuition fee increase

Wits slowly returning to normal despite fires

Adam Wakefield, News24

Johannesburg - Despite fires overnight and some blocked entrances on Wednesday morning, student life seemed to be slowly but surely returning to normal at the University of Witwatersrand.

A group of about 12 students were seen blocking one of the roads leading onto the campus where overturned concrete bins and logs were lying in the street.

But most students were just walking around them, continuing with their day, unwilling to talk to the media.

Those protesting were shouting at passing students, "Free education is here!" with a handful of security guards looking on.

"We don't want media here... don't talk us," protesters said.

A wall had been sprayed graffiti, saying: "Run Habib Run," in reference to Vice Chancellor Adam Habib.

One student walking by wondered out loud why the protesters were in the road, saying classes had returned to normal.

Outside the great hall, a group were singing and chanting against worker outsourcing.

Earlier on Wednesday, Wits said in a statement that several fires were started "deliberately and simultaneously" on its Braamfontein campus overnight, but that the fires were extinguished quickly and no one was injured.

News24
Source
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Wits-slowly-returning-to-normal-despite-fires-20151028
 
ellyally said:
Yarr... hopefully none injured badly. Must have been a handful of little ****s causing trouble:)
Click to expand...

People throwing faeces and rocks, and assaulting others, and committing arson are not little ****s.

Sounds more like serious criminals.
 
Just saw seven police vehicles heading towards Empire road entrance. Don't know how many people are blocking that entrance but its about to get real.
 
Two allegedly assaulted by protesting students - Wits

Adam Wakefield, News24

Johannesburg - Two people were allegedly assaulted late Wednesday morning by protesting students at Wits University's Yale Road entrance, the university said.

Spokesperson Shirona Patel told News24 the university had received two reports of assault, one from a security guard and the other a member of the public.

"We've [also] had [reports of] intimidation. Lots of people said they are being intimidated."

Patel said they were encouraging people to put their complaints in writing, including what was said to them, accompanied by any photographic or video evidence.

Late Tuesday night, several fires were started on campus. One incident involved a break-in at the Matrix student centre and the partial burning of a book shop there.
Patel said police were posted at the Yale Road entrance, and if needed they would remove students blocking it.

Protests against outsourcing also continue

She said the protesting students were demanding that people leave their lectures and classes. They apparently attempted to disrupt an engineering lecture, but students stood their ground and said they would not move, and the lecture continued.

Elsewhere on campus, a group of around 30 students and 120 workers demonstrated against outsourcing. University management was due to meet this group around lunch time.

"At the same time we are going to talk to the employer," Patel said.

"We will address them to discuss what we plan to do."

While the disruptions were taking place, the majority of students at the university's Braamfontein campus went about their day almost as normal, although the #FeesMustFall campaign was still being discussed by many students.

The protests began at Wits University two weeks ago when the university announced a proposed 10.5% fee hike for 2016.

They quickly spread to campuses around South Africa, eventually culminating in President Jacob Zuma announcing a freeze in university fee hikes for 2016.

News24
Source
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Two-allegedly-assaulted-by-protesting-students-Wits-20151028
 
I find the inconsistency of enforcing the law problematic. Last week protesters were blocking roads and assaulting motorists and this was basically condoned. This week they're doing the same and now it is being condemned. The methods are the same, only the cause is different. The methods must be condoned or condemned consistently regardless of the cause.
 
Photographer punched at Wits

Johannesburg - An Independent Media photographer was assaulted and pelted with stones by protesting students at Wits University on Wednesday morning.

Chris Collingridge went to the university after receiving information about protesting students barricading the entrances to the Braamfontein campus.

"When I arrived I saw some students in an altercation with security. As I approached with my camera, I was told to ‘f@$% off’ and that ‘the media must f$%# off’," said Collingridge.

Moments later as the altercation escalated he was blind-sided and punched in the face. Despite being attacked, Collingridge still managed to capture a series of images depicting the protests.
Click to expand...

More at http://beta.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/gauteng/photographer-punched-at-wits-1937183
 
Don't know why police weren't called in in the morning after last nights mayhem. People (including protesters) are complaining about that guy getting arrested saying he wasn't even part of the protest. And some other guy was saying that not all the people at Empire road are Witsies because his UJ friends are there.
That was before I left campus about 45 minutes ago.
 
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