Students clash on beliefs at Wits

Wits University is keeping mum on the action to be taken following a brawl between the Wits Palestinian Solidarity Committee (PSC) and the South African Union of Jewish Students (SAUJS) on 7 March.

The two student bodies were involved in a scuffle which ultimately turned violent and allegedly heated exchanges and punches were also thrown around.

According to media reports, the two groups broke out in scuffles when students from the SAUJS set up an installation on the space that was promised to the PSC members by Wits management.

In a reply to the questions sent to the university’s spokesperson, Shirona Patel the university said these matters are internal student issues which are being managed by the dean of students, in line with the university’s rules, policies and procedures.

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“Wits is home to a diverse community and provides a space for engagement on a range of issues, even when these issues are difficult.

“The university appeals to all external parties and lobby groups to respect the processes of the university and to allow the university to engage directly with its students rather than through external interlocutors of one or other ethnic or religious group,” said the statement issued by senior communications officer, Buhle Zuma.

The university said it believes that premature external intervention deprives students of the space in which to grow, learn and acquire vital skills that will assist them to become future leaders.

It called on all parties, both from within and beyond the university, to engage responsibly within the confines of the law and to abide by the rules of the university.

Israeli Apartheid Week is an internationally recognised week of solidarity in support of the people in Palestine, which promotes awareness, discourse and discussion.