Mthokozisi Ntumba: Who’s the man killed during Wits protests?
South Africans have reacted angrily to the death of Mthokozisi Ntumba, the man who was killed by police during the Wits University student protests
The death of Mthokozisi Ntumba during Wits University’s student protests has shocked South Africans, without a doubt. The 35 year-old man was shot dead allegedly by members of the South African Police Service (SAPS), on Wednesday, 10 March 2021.
Protesting students filled the streets of Braamfontein in Johannesburg, demanding that Wits’ management allow some of their indebted counterparts to register for the 2021 academic year. The crowd was already outraged, but it was the fatal shooting of the man which led to matters really getting out of hand. Added onto that was the fact that he was a mere bystander who was leaving the clinic when he was allegedly shot at point black.
The Daily Vox to investigate the death.
[UPDATE as of MARCH 15] IPID has arrested four police officers in connection with the murder of Ntumba. “The four officers will appear at the Johannesburg Magistrate Court on Wednesday, March 17 and they are facing chargers of murder and three charges of attempted murder and defeating the end of justice,” said IPID spokesperson Ndileka Cola.
#WitsProtest Police minister Bheki Cele is in Kempton Park to visit the family of Mthokozi Edwin Ntumba. The 35 year old was killed allegedly at the hands of police yesterday @MiaLindeque is there. ML pic.twitter.com/mAylYG41G3 EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) March 11, 2021
Contralesa blasts police over shooting of Mthokozisi Ntumba in Joburg 11 March 2021 - 12:25 Students gather to pay respects to a man who died allegedly after being shot at close range with rubber bullets by police during a student protest in Braamfontein, Johannesburg. Image: Alaister Russell/The Sunday Times
Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (Contralesa) president Kgosi Mathupa Mokoena has lambasted the conduct of the police who shot at protesting Wits students in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) is investigating the death of bystander Mthokozisi Ntumba, who died when the police fired rubber bullets at protesting students in Braamfontein.
Wits VC pleads with Nzimande for guidance
The installation of Professor Zeblon Vilakazi as the vice-chancellor and principal of the University of the Witwatersrand was postponed after a man was shot by police in Braamfontein on Wednesday.
Mthokozisi Ntumba, 35, was hit by three rubber bullets during a student protest. He was walking on De Beer Street in Braamfontein from a clinic.
Wits students have been protesting against the exclusion of some students who have historical debt and cannot reregister because of their outstanding fees.
Vilakazi said on Thursday that the university regrets the death of Ntumba because of the bad handling of the student protest.