Wits students vow to continue protest against financial problems
Protesting Wits University students say they will continue to mobilise students from other higher learning institutions to fight financial exclusion. Students blocked off the busy Empire Road in Johannesburg Tuesday morning causing a major traffic jam.
“Today we have taken to the streets now as a coalition of organisations that have come together as the Wits Coalition for Free Education together with the Wits SRC, PY, EFF Student Command because we are all sick and tired of our institution not taking us seriously,” says Wits SRC president Mpendulo Mfeka.
The students say they have had enough and are already mobilising students from other institutions to join in their fight. They want Wits University to allow students to register for the 2021 academic year regardless of the amount they owe in historical debt.
“When the year began, we had 8 142 students who were at risk of financial exclusion. As it stands there are 6 332 who are at risk of financial exclusion. What this means, these students will not be allowed to come back into the university even though they’ve performed well because of their academic state. In practical terms, it means if you do not have the money to register you must go home.
Traffic was disrupted after students blocked the busy Empire Road opposite the Wits Braamfontein campus with rocks and burning tyres. After police dispersed the protestors, they moved to the Wits Medical School in Parktown where police say they tried to forcefully gain entry.
Law enforcement officials fired rubber bullets to disperse the students, resulting in several of them being injured. Among the injured is Wits SRC member Gaby Farber.
“Today majority of us got fired with rubber bullets without warning. We were right there at Med campus, singing peacefully, not throwing anything, not destroying anything, and then they went without warning and shot us
In other news – Makhadzi’s new boyfriend revealed after split with Master KG
Performer Makhadzi has finally moved on from ex-boyfriend Master KG. But because of all the bad press she received after introducing the producer as her boyfriend, she is determined to keep her private life under wraps.
Performer Makhadzi has finally moved on from ex-boyfriend Master KG. But because of all the bad press she received after introducing the producer as her boyfriend, she is determined to keep her private life under wraps. Learn more
Source: IOL
