UPDATE: Wits to hold rare assembly

Wits University will host a General Assembly tomorrow (7 October) for the first time in 11 years.

Senior communications officer, Shirona Patel explained that the meeting would occur between 11am and 12.30pm on the library lawns at the Braamfontein East Campus.

“It is exceptionally rare that a General Assembly of the university is called. It is an extraordinary event, convened on only the gravest of occasions,” she said.

“The role of the General Assembly is to adopt resolutions reached by consensus in the university. Wits is holding the assembly with the aim to unite all constituencies in a joint stance on an issue of national importance, in this case focusing on access to quality higher education.”

The meeting will see statements read by the chancellor of Wits, Justice Moseneke; the chairperson of council, Dr Randall Carolissen; the chairperson of senate, Professor Adam Habib; the chairperson of forum, Mpho Tlala; the president of the Students’ Representative Council, Kefentse Mkhari and the president of convocation, Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng.

Patel said that there may be other speakers, but this is to be confirmed.

There have been only 10 General Assemblies at Wits, since 1959. These include the objection to the Universities Amendment Bill which gave the Minister power to impose racial quotas on universities, in 1983, and a declaration against the State of Emergency and the detention without trial of students and staff, in 1986.

The last General Assembly was held for those who boycotted their graduation ceremonies in protest under the apartheid regime, in 2005, Patel said.

UPDATE: 10.57am, 6 October

Protesting Wits students plan to march from the main campus in Braamfontein to the medical campus today (6 October).

At a student meeting yesterday, students proposed to march to the medical campus so that medical students can join in the protest for free education. The group will then march back to the main campus in Braamfontein and congregate at Solomon Mahlangu House to discuss further plans.

This morning, incoming Wits Student Representative Council president, Kefentse Mkhari, addressed workers and students at the medical campus about the ongoing #FeesMustFall protest.

Last year students had demanded that workers be insourced but Mkhari said that despite promises made by the university, no action has been taken. Mkhari added that they remain adamant in their demands for free education, and the university had promised to stand behind students in their demand but has since backtracked.

Another student stood up and added that they wanted to write their exams but it was more important to protest for free education.

Wits senior communications officer, Shirona Patel, has confirmed that the chancellor of Wits University, Justice Moseneke will preside over the general assembly to be held tomorrow.

This is a developing story.

More details to follow.