adminJohannesburg — Police fired stun grenades to disperse a group of rock throwing #FeesMustFall protesters at Wits University yesterday.
The students were initially trying to access the institution’s Solomon Mahlangu House, when they were blocked by private security. They then threw rocks at the guards who were blocking the entrances at the Great Hall with shields.
Three police Nyalas then arrived, and officers used stun grenades. Earlier, two students were arrested after the institution’s FNB computer lab was flooded.
Wits spokesperson Shirona Patel confirmed that the labs had been flooded, and that two students were arrested. More information on the charges was not immediately available.
“It is [being] seen as deliberate – to get people out of the labs. We are reviewing the video footage,” said Patel.
Demonstrating students disrupted classes at three of the institution’s campuses earlier yesterday.
A large group which had gathered outside the Great Hall had gone to different classes to stop lectures, this as they work toward shutting down the entire varsity in their demand for free education.
Students have claimed that the institution is refusing to make concessions and are just demanding that the academic programme resumes.
Meanwhile, around 100 UKZN Westville students embarked on #FeesMustFall protests yesterday morning.
Speaking to News24, a student who did not want to be named, said protesters had picked up stones and hurled them at security.
“I was in the library when university staff came in and evacuated us. I had to go to the quad where there was a stand-off between police and protesters. I had seen protesters arming themselves with bricks and stones as well. They had attacked security with it earlier.”
According to the student, the group of protesters then broke off into two groups.
“I think they were trying to evade police and give them the slip. One group went to the cafeteria and the other went toward the library. It was chaos and we had nowhere to go. People just pushed and shoved and ran.”
The student added: “It feels tense today. It is quiet at the moment, but we are expecting more violence.” — AP
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