Outrage over death of âinnocent bystanderâ at student protest Share Johannesburg - South African President Cyril Ramaphosa led the chorus of outrage from the countryâs politicians following the death of a government employee during a student protest outside the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) on March 10. The man died as students and police clashed in Braamfontein, Johannesburg. âMthokozisi Ntumba was an innocent bystander and, indeed, even the students, much as they were protesting, the way I saw it on television, did not warrant the type of resistance and push from the police,â said Ramaphosa. Ramaphosa said he had asked the Wits University Council and its management as well as the relevant law enforcement authoritiesâ agencies to provide an explanation on what caused this tragedy, and to take whatever steps needed to ensure justice was done.