One person killed as police, students clash at South Africa s Wits university
10 Mar 2021 - 14:23
Reuters
Johannesburg: One person was killed on Wednesday after police fired rubber bullets to disperse a group of protesters at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in Johannesburg, a student leader said.
The students are demanding that those who owe the university up to 150,000 rand ($ 9,850) in fees still be allowed to register for the new academic year.
The cost of university education, prohibitive for many Black students, has become a symbol of the inequalities that endure in South Africa more than two decades after the end of apartheid.
Wits responds after a 35-year-old man dies during student protest Updated
Jacaranda FM
Share this:
They added that two student reporters were also injured, and
three protestors were arrested and taken to the Hillbrow Police Station.
SUPPLIED
The University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) has responded to
the death of a civilian during the protest action at the institution
on Wednesday.
In a statement, Wits says it is deeply saddened
to learn of the passing of the 35-year-old man in the Braamfontein CBD outside
of the institution this morning.
The university s Executive Team says in the statement
they condemn any form of violence and call on all persons to keep
It was not immediately clear whether he would be charged or where he was taken.
Fasiha Hassan, a member of the Gauteng legislature, posted a message to Twitter, announcing steps to assist those students who had been arrested.
We have been at the hillbrow police station to assist arrested students. We have sought legal representation and are sorting out the necessary documents. But we are still attempting to get food through to the arrested students #FeesMustFall Fasiha Hassan (@FasihaHassan) March 10, 2021
Earlier in the day, a who man visited a clinic in Braamfontein at the time of protests in the area, died after he was shot, allegedly by police.
Amnesty International says law enforcement officials must comply with national and international standards and only use force when necessary during protests.
‘Why am I being shot?’ Witnesses describe last moments of man shot during Wits protests
His body lay on concrete, covered in foil, for hours. Part of his head, with short hair, was exposed. Next to his head was one of his blue takkies.
At first, a woman circled his body taking photos. She left. Another man came, surrounded by police officers, and they spoke over the dead man’s body. He left. A woman and man came, and the foil was removed. They inspected the body and kept on writing things down. They left. A man dressed in a sleeveless khaki jacket marked “IPID” (Independent Police Investigative Directorate) came and stood hovering over the body, while taking police statements.