VIDEO: Student allegedly beaten with a baton
BRAAMFONTEIN – Wits University has denied allegations of violence against protesting students claiming that there was a scuffle between security guards and students.
As the registration process at Wits University gets back on track after being disrupted by the #FeesMustFall protest on 11 and 12 January, the university vehemently denied allegations that their security guards were violent toward protesting students.
In a statement released on their website, the university came out strongly against the allegations, citing that there were several scuffles between the security personnel and students which resulted in four security guards receiving treatment for injuries sustained during the scuffle.
The statement pointed out that the students were asked to vacate the ground floor of Senate House and were served with written notices to do so. However, after they were given time to leave they refused to do so and were evicted on the morning of 12 January. “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 statement said.
Police pushing us back, trying to disperse our protest for #FreeEducationNow! #FeesMustFall #PoliceOffOurCampuses pic.twitter.com/tysGNDYbDb
— Rei_mundo 🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸 (@Searatoa) January 13, 2016
According to the statement, the disruption halted face-to-face registrations at the university for over two days which resulted in many students registering online and telephonically.
However, students who were evicted claim that the security guards were excessively violent and chased them into the men’s residence on campus and kept them hostage there for several hours.
Talk abt excessive use of force! #FeesMustFall #FreeEducationNow pic.twitter.com/B4tEIAllC4
— Rei_mundo 🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸 (@Searatoa) January 13, 2016
One student said that she was beaten with a baton by the security guards and injured her left hand. “They hit us on the stomach because it’s harder to bruise there and it’s harder to prove,” said the student who wished to stay anonymous. She added that there were several other students who experienced the same level of violence toward them by the security guards.”I think there were a few students who had to go and get medical attention after we were attacked by the security guards,” she added.
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Wits is adamant that registration will continue
