Stun grenades fired, rocks thrown, security increased at Wits protest
Police are on high alert at the institution after a rock exchange between students and a security company.
Image: Northcliff Times/Andile Dlodlo
The police have fired stun grenades at protesting students at the University of the Witwatersrand. Footage has surfaced, showing protesting students surprised by a loud explosion.
Wits SRC Ashley Mabasa confirmed police started shooting at the Jorrisen Gate of the institution. The student protest has entered its third day on Thursday as students protest for issues regarding their fees and accommodation.
According to the Northcliff Times, the protesters are demanding that returning students be given accommodation or funding for accommodation and that all returning students with historic debt should be registered immediately. The institution has come out stating they could not meet the demands.
About 150 Wits students, led by the SRC, are going around the campus in an attempt to disrupt classes. Police were on the scene in an attempt to restore order to the institution.
https://twitter.com/siphosihlembuli/status/1093414471782014977
Violence erupts. Stones being thrown by students and private security.#WitsStrike #WitsProtest#WitsHungerStrike #WitsShutdown@WitsUniversity@Wits_SRC pic.twitter.com/wWfx1ScW4a
— Northcliff Melville Times (@NewsNMT) February 7, 2019
Students disrupt class's being held in the New Commerce Building.#WitsProtest #WitsHungerStrike #witsshutdown @WitsUniversity @Wits_SRC pic.twitter.com/GaUbPk0PPb
— Northcliff Melville Times (@NewsNMT) February 7, 2019
Protesters at Wits are threatening those who try to take pictures or videos. The guy in the green attempted to intimidate me and get me to delete this clip, but I walked back to a group of security officers. #WitsShutdown #WitsProtest2019 pic.twitter.com/yZkV55S7U3
— Dawson Gooch (@GoochDawson) February 7, 2019
Wits SRC President instructs police to leave the campus telling them this is not their jurisdiction, students are still in protest on campus however university management has sent communique that the academic calendar continues #WitsProtest #FeesMustFall pic.twitter.com/N9knEE5s6L
— Zamayirha (@UZamayirha) February 7, 2019
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