Wits protest latest: University closed due to protest
JOBURG - The University of Witwatersrand has issued a statement saying that they have taken a decision to suspend all university activities for the day (16 October), except for the Medical School Campus.
This follows a protest by students which began on 14 October. The students are unhappy with the 10 percent fees increase for 2016.
Prof. Andrew Crouch, acting vice-chancellor for Prof. Adam Habib who is in Durban attending a summit on higher education said, “We have been trying for days to negotiate with the groups of students who have staged a protest on our campuses, disrupting lectures, vandalising infrastructure and intimidating members of the Wits community.”He added that if the protest continued they would be left with no other choice but to take action against the students involved in the protest.
Click here to read: VIDEO: Wits students win fight against demolition of residence
The university earlier this week cancelled all part-time lectures for the remainder of the week.
Police have been deployed at the institution after concerns were raised about other students’ safety, and to try and calm the situation.
This is what people had to say about the protest on social media:
What this country can't afford is to bar citizens frm quality education. That's a waste of human capital. Invest in educ #WitsFeesMustFall
— Ms. Siya Miti (@SiyaMiti_the1st) October 16, 2015
Students are demanding that the group move away from Habib. They don't want him to speak before other students arrive #WitsFeesMustFall
— MaNdosi (@SthembileCel) October 16, 2015
https://twitter.com/Pontsho_Pilane/status/654941431186989056
Habib and his contingent on their way to meet the crowd #WitsFeesMustFall pic.twitter.com/RdoyqCMDvE
— Jack's Daughter (@N_isforNadia) October 16, 2015
https://twitter.com/Kgee_1/status/654939432051699712
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