UPDATE: 2pm – The march at the Union Buildings has turned violent with the students pelting police officers with rocks and stones.
Police officers have barricaded the Union Buildings, using barbed wire, however, the students have began to remove the wire.
Watch the dramatic live coverage below:
UPDATE: 1pm – Students have now begun to start fires at the protest. They are believed to have burned tyres and set alight a portable toilet.
According to reports, stun grenades are being used against the crowd.
UPDATE: 12:45pm – Student leaders have handed over their memorandum over to the president, Jacob Zuma and other presidential officials.
Some of the students are still trying to break through the gates, while some students are getting agitated and throwing objects at the stage.
The president is due to adress the students in a few moments.
UPDATE: 12:30pm –
Students are attempting to break through the gates at the Union Buildings. Police officials remain on the other side of the gates at the Union Buildings.
UPDATE: 12pm – As the students continue to march to the Union Buildings, some of them wear masks to protect against mustard gas.
Terrabce Khumede from TUT, said, “The students will take any force that the police throw at them because the Fees Must Fall.”
According to our journalists at the march, thousands of students have descended upon the Union Buildings, and more students are still expected to arrive.
Members of the ANC and the EFF are also at the march.
UPDATE: 11:30am –View some tweets from the march to the Union Buildings below:
Live report from the Union Buildings. #FeesMustFall #UPrising pic.twitter.com/TRdCf7Ng5e
— Pretoria Rekord (@RekordNewspaper) October 23, 2015
https://twitter.com/JaguarPF/status/657494225706205184
At #unionbuilding waiting for Jacob Zuma to address us. #FeesMustFall
— #EndSARS???????? (@ItsFlame) October 23, 2015
https://twitter.com/Dreezy301/status/657488907244818432https://twitter.com/TFMReporter/status/657488897467879424https://twitter.com/OkKoolPam/status/657488895848919040https://twitter.com/Eemzovic/status/657488819432923136https://twitter.com/SAgovnews/status/657488783806435328https://twitter.com/Mediummeal/status/657488696191680512
Thousands of students have closed the cbd gathering support from workers and street vendors #unionbuilding pic.twitter.com/IyNwtoxy7W
— Mokete Radebe (@mokete80) October 23, 2015
Am doing this for my kids n my kids kids… #unionbuilding.
— Ntw'enhle (@PamellaMtho) October 23, 2015
I'm appalled at the massive presence of HEAVILY ARMED POLICE…are they going to a war? #unionbuilding
— His Excellency (@eemz_em) October 23, 2015
Some of student leaders attending the meeting #UniversityFees #unionbuilding pic.twitter.com/mrWhvMCn20
— @SAgovnews (@SAgovnews) October 23, 2015
As our young lions stand tall without fear in front of their struggle.#FeesMustFall #unionbuilding pic.twitter.com/wfj5HQLYTU
— Tshepe Tshepe (@Mediummeal) October 23, 2015
UPDATE: 11am – It is reported that thousands of students have embarked on their march to the Union Buildings.
Watch a video from one of the protesters below:
Students from Wits University and University of Joburg have left and are on their way to the Union Buildings. They are expected to arrive within the hour.
Students that are already at the buildings are awaiting the arrival of Jacob Zuma.
INITIAL REPORT: Students and the rest of the country is gearing up for the massive march to the Union Buildings in Pretoria today, where students will meet with South African president, Jacob Zuma, to discuss the issues of University fees in South Africa.
It is believed that students are still at Wits University currently awaiting JMPD to escourt the convoy to the Union Buildings.
We will keep you updated with the latest information on the march.
https://twitter.com/_mo2c_/status/657481072956059648
https://twitter.com/Fable_chubb/status/657480216630185984
https://twitter.com/_mo2c_/status/657477773930426368
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