UPDATE: Wits protest turns violent
JOBURG - The University of Witwatersrand suspended all activities at the institution on 19 October to allow the executive council to report to a university assembly.
UPDATE: 19 October 2015, 5:45pm – Protesting Wits students brought traffic to a stand still earlier this afternoon following protest action in Braamfontein.
It is reported that students attacked vehicles that was passing by in Braamfontein.
According to reports, the students said that they attacked the vehicles after they were threatened by motorists to run them over on the streets.
The crowd dispersed following the arrival of JMPD officers who threatened to fire rubber bullets at the crowd.
According to reports, the students made their way back to the Wits campus to be addressed by council members.
View some tweets about the protest below:
Cars can't move here in Bram. #WitsFeeMustFall #Witsfees @MG_Reporter Watch: pic.twitter.com/VME31JP801
— SITHOLEEXPRESS (@SthembisoMedia) October 19, 2015
It was so nice today to see how many people were in support of the #FeesMustFall campaign as we walked through Braam
— Radhika (@radioisotope93) October 19, 2015
I am not for violence and running over students is violence!!!!!! #wits and you say students are monkeys?
— 💋Pearly Princess Lala💋 (@pearllamola) October 19, 2015
The ANC government has shown great commitment to education by allocating so much budget but how is it been used? #FeesMustFall #Wits #uct
— Lawrence (@DubeLawrence) October 19, 2015
Was a few cars away frm this and they call it peacefull ? This is hooliganism. New concept… #STUDY ! #Wits https://t.co/5arsvx7hPP
— Riana Visser (@Dedrobot) October 19, 2015
INITIAL REPORT: 19 October 2015, 11am – This includes lectures, examinations, assessments and practicals, and will affect all students and staff on all campuses, including the Medical School and affiliated hospitals, said the university in a statement.
Wits students and some staff members had embarked on a three-day campus shutdown against fee increases by the university for 2016.
The university said, following an intense and protracted engagement between protesting students and members of the Executive Committee of Council, it was agreed that:
- The University will suspend the decision on all fee increases made for 2016. There will be no increase until negotiators reach an agreement
- The negotiations pertaining to fee increases will resume anew
- In the eventuality of negotiations breaking down, the university will not revert to its initial decision
- A new framework for negotiations will be jointly agreed upon in which any final decision of council on this matter will ratified by a university assembly
- There will be no disciplinary action taken against students or workers who participated in the protest, and no workers will face dismissal as a result of their participation in the protest.
Wits students reached an agreement with Council. 10.5% fee increment decision has been suspended #WitsFeesHaveFallen pic.twitter.com/8RPWqeL1KT
— ReadabookSA (@ReadaBookSA) October 17, 2015
The agreement was signed by the chairperson of the Executive Committee of Council, Dr Randall Carolisssen, and Shaeera Kalla, the outgoing SRC president.
The council held a meeting on 18 October to deliberate on these matters they are expected to report to the students on 19 October midday.
Social media reaction after Wits suspended the fees hike for 2016:
Iconic images taken at the #WitsFeesHaveFallen protest. When the people are united nothing can stand in their way. pic.twitter.com/nXBOeGphVT
— ReadabookSA (@ReadaBookSA) October 17, 2015
Power concedes nothing without a struggle-what you hve not won in the streets you will not win in the negotiations table #WitsFeesHaveFallen
— Zwelinzima Vavi (@Zwelinzima1) October 17, 2015
Just 3 days to get @WitsUniversity to back down from 10.5 % fee increase -thats blitzkrieg power from the @WitsSRC #WitsFeesHaveFallen
— Ashraf Garda (@AshrafGarda) October 17, 2015
Congratulations to all the Wits students that stood up for what they believe in and made their voices and power count!✊🏼 #WitsFeesHaveFallen
— Maps Maponyane (@MapsMaponyane) October 17, 2015
#WitsFeesHaveFallen Well Done Wits Students 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏💪✊✊✊✊✊✊✊👏👏👏
— Tata Ka West 🐼🦁 (@King_Samkelo_ZA) October 17, 2015
