SA’s student riotsSouth African universities saw a suspension of lectures, tests and activities in the wake of a call to shut down campuses after an 8% fee increase was announced. Protest action turned violent at WITS Students must avoid being fooled into joining protests that have nothing to do with them, University of Johannesburg’s convocation president Mbali Mkhonto warned.“We encourage students to contemplate the minister’s announcement to ensure that they are not hoaxed into joining protests that have got absolutely nothing to do with them.
On Monday, Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande announced that universities in the country could increase fees for 2017 but they could not exceed 8%. The poor and “missing middle” students would be subsidised.
“It will be mendacious to think that free education can be rolled out instantaneously, it is a process which may be protracted as government looks at sustainable funding models for this far reaching, immense project,” Mkhonto said in a statement.
Mkhonto urged students to be aware of those who appropriate legitimate student causes for their personal political ends.
He said students must focus on their studies during this crucial time in the academic calendar.
Mkhonto commended the announcement by Nzimande as ground-breaking and a positive stride toward free education.
“This is in all regards a feasible concession while the commission charged with looking at the feasibility of free education wraps up its work.”
Nzimade said the ministry looked at the challenges at hand from all sides and concluded that the best approach would be to allow universities to individually determine their own increases.
Shortly after his announcement students at universities across the country began protesting.
Most universities suspended all activities and lectures with the University of the Free State announcing this as early as Monday evening.
UCT student protesters made their way through empty lecture halls at the institution on Tuesday morning after the university decided to suspend classes.
UCT announced on social media that classes, lectures and tutorials were suspended for Tuesday and Wednesday, advising students to check its website for updates.
Earlier on Tuesday morning, police warned about 30 students blockading the road leading to upper campus with two canoes, a car, a bench and a tree branch that they were obstructing a public road and would face “procedure” should they not remove the objects.
The students, in turn, demanded a court order and remained seated before making their way to the lecture halls.
No clashes with police were reported in Cape Town but at the University of the Witwatersrand (WITS), some 30 students were arrested and later released without charge and around midday, clashes intensified with reports of security guards using stun grenades to disperse protesting students. This followed the students pelting guards with stones, demanding access to the Great Hall on campus.
Elsewhere, students showed their peaceful intent while marching through campuses and blocking routes in and out of campuses across the country.
There has been a nationwide call for students to shut down universities following the announcement by higher education Minister Blade Nzimande that the department recommends a 2017 fee increase capped at 8% for those who can afford it.