Students heed shutdown call and block entrances to UJ & NMU
Protesting students at the University of Johannesburg’s Kingsway Campus have blocked off an area in Auckland Park, demanding that historic debt be abandoned.
They also want universities to reduce their fees.
The South African Union of Students (SAUS) announced a nationwide shutdown on Sunday.
The national shutdown of universities appeared to be gaining momentum here in Johannesburg.
Earlier the situation was quiet but now students have come out in their numbers and have blocked a main intersection near the campus square opposite the university’s main entrance.
⚠️ ALERT
Student protesters have blocked off University Rd & Kingsway Ave in Auckland Park. Officers are present to divert traffic. The situation is calm. Motorists are advised to exercise caution. #JHBTraffic pic.twitter.com/Otg776PRHE
— Jo’burg Metro Police Department – JMPD (@JoburgMPD) March 15, 2021
⚠️ Traffic Advisory
Student protesters are now at Annet Rd & Barry Hertzog Ave in Cottesloe. Expect delays on Annet Rd. Officers present to divert traffic. #JHBTraffic pic.twitter.com/i73zArHMT8
— Jo’burg Metro Police Department – JMPD (@JoburgMPD) March 15, 2021
As a result, motorists were forced to make a U-turn and find alternative routes to their destinations.
NELSON MANDELA UNIVERSITY BLOCKADE
A group of students at Nelson Mandela University on Monday also heeded the call to universities from the South African Union of Students (SAUS) of a shutdown.
Protesting students blocked off the entrances to the university’s north and south entrances earlier today.
NMU SRC president Thembalethu Nykilana: “What’s currently happening is that I’m in a senior meeting with the management of the university in exactly what I’ve said earlier on trying to find a solution to what we can proactively do as a university to assist the situation with the full understanding, of course, that the bulk of thee challenges are challenges that are at the desk of national government.”
In an advisory uploaded on the Nelson Mandela University’s website, it said that it was aware of the call for a national shutdown of the higher education sector until such time as the demands of the South African Union of Students were met.
#UPDATE – #NationalUniversityShutdown – way forward for Nelson Mandela Uni
For more info read the attached pic.twitter.com/aArEwFezNM
— Mandela University (@MandelaUni) March 15, 2021
It said that with the entrances to both north and south campuses blockaded earlier and students having already been advised not to come onto campus by their lecturers, staff were advised to consult directly with their line managers on the way forward.
The institution said that it trusted that the many challenges raised by the students would be urgently addressed and resolved to enable the university to start the academic year for all its students.
WATER CANNONS
In Braamfontein, police clashed with a handful of students who were protesting and turning over dust bins.
Police were forced to use a water cannon to disperse angry students who had now gathered outside the university’s Rosebank office entrance.
-EWN
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Mzansi has still not processed the fall of the giant! Yes, the entertainment industry has been robbed not only in South Africa but the world at large. South Africa is in shock after learning that the greatest thespians Menzi Ngubane and Noxee Maqashalala passed away.
Menzi is was an award-winning South African Actor who made all sorts of headlines when he joined The Queen Mzansi cast after leaving Isibaya. Learn More
