GALLERY and VIDEO: Wits protest day 2: SRC aims to close education campus
BRAAMFONTEIN – Protest against fees increments enters its second day, where seemingly a deadlock has been reached between both parties.
Student protest action at the main Wits University Campus in Braamfontein entered its second day on 15 October, where students are refusing to accept the university’s decision on its 10.5 per cent increase in fees.
The main campus is currently closed.
Former Wits SRC president Mcebo Dlamini is throwing his weight behind the new SRC president and the #witsshutdown march that has been in place since 14 October. Dlamini said that they will continue to protest until a solution is met.
“We know that [Wits Vice Chancellor Professor Adam Habib] is on campus hiding from us, we know that he is running away from us,” he said.
He pointed out that there was a heavier police presence but said that the students were continuing their protest and would be closing down the Wits education campus as well.
Newly elected Wits SRC president Nompendulo Mkhatshwa said that the protest action would continue throughout the day.
“We want Prof Habib to to address us and the communication process to open up,” she said.
She added that the SRC’s vote in the council, where the the decision to increase fees was taken, was outvoted 13–3. “Our vote must count as we represent many students with this vote,” Mkhwatsha said.
Kemantha Govender, senior communications officer from Wits, denied that Prof Habib was on campus and said that he was at a conference in Durban where he was a keynote speaker. “We have called the police to be here today to remove the protesting students as the students have blocked all the entrances to the university again,” Govender said.
She added that she did not know when Prof Habib would address the students about the protest.
A statement from the Wits website said that its academic programme will continue as planned despite the disruptions, threatening strong police action if the protest continues through the day, to ensure staff and students have access to the campus. “Additional security will be put in place at all campus entry and exit points.
Should there be any changes, the university will alert staff and students via email, SMS and the media where possible,” the statement read.
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