Wits students hand over memorandum to Chamber of Mines
JOBURG – Wits students march to the Chamber of Mines and hand over a memorandum of demands.
Students from the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) have marched to the Chamber of Mines to hand over a memorandum of demands in their protest for free education.
Police stood outside the building in anticipation of any disturbance. The memorandum details the students’ reason for marching to the chamber, which calls for the chamber to commit to use their capital reserves so free education in universities can be realised.
@NewsNMT #FeesMustFall #Wits students read memorandum stating ChamberofMines contribute more money pic.twitter.com/qhwkbX4BPr
— Gaahele M (@Treaka) September 28, 2016
@NewsNMT #Wits students read out memorandum they will handover. #FeesMustFall @randburg_sun @RoodepoortNorth pic.twitter.com/Pi1zIMBFqE
— Gaahele M (@Treaka) September 28, 2016
@NewsNMT #FeesMustFall a rep from ChamberofMines signs memorandum. While students chant "signa capitalisti signa" pic.twitter.com/91jQEJ0W2R
— Gaahele M (@Treaka) September 28, 2016
Former Student Representative Council (SRC) president Mcebo Dlamini addressed gathered students and told them they had marched to the Chamber of Mines because South Africa has enough minerals to generate enough income for university education to be free. According to Dlamini, money made from mines is sent overseas instead of being used to fund education in SA.
He furthermore said SRC members were going to court to issue an interdict against the referendum Wits will issue to students tomorrow. This referendum is based on the poll Wits held for students on reopening the university.
Among those who addressed the crowd, Methodist Church SA Bishop, Gary Rivas, said the church stands in support of #FeesMustFall as education within the church is free and therefore they stand with the students.
Vusi Mabena, the senior executive for transformation and stakeholder relations at the Chamber of Mines, came out and signed the memorandum and promised to reply to it in a timeous manner.
Police then led the way for Wits students to march peacefully back to campus, where they would make their future plans.
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