Johannesburg - The Wits Student Representative Council has defended its protest action on the university campus on Monday, and denied that students vandalised and looted stores in Braamfontein.
According to the statement released on Tuesday morning, the students continued with the protest because the university had been “irresponsible” in reopening its campus on Monday, without a consensus from student leadership.
“As the country witnessed yesterday (on Monday), not only did the VC (vice-chancellor Adam Habib) disagree with the proposal for an imbizo but he also requested an even greater police presence at the university. We were told that we could gather and demonstrate in designated areas, including the Great Hall Piazza and the Library Lawns. Yet, students were greeted at the stairs of the Great Hall by a heavy police presence with police dogs and ‘nyalas’,” the statement read.
Media reports have indicated it was students who attacked security personnel unprovoked on Monday morning, triggering the conflict between police and students, but the statement did not address the accusations.
It did describe “police brutality” against Father Graham Pugin, who was hit by rubber bullets while he was outside the nearby Holy Trinity Catholic Church.
Shops were vandalised and looted shortly after students were removed from the campus on Monday afternoon, but the SRC has denied any involvement. “It is of utmost importance that we firmly distance ourselves from the burning of the bus in Braamfontein and the damage caused to stores in the area. We are confident that it is not our students who were involved in these activities and we distance ourselves from these actions,” the statement read.
The SRC has called on the public to assist in providing money for bail and legal fees for the eight students who were arrested during the clashes on Monday.
“We would like to make an appeal to students who are attending classes to listen to calls of thousands of their peers. What meaning will your university degree have when you get it by ignoring the plight of the poor and working class of this country? How can you sit comfortably in a lab whilst just a few steps away, students are being victimised and shot at for calling for free education?”
On Tuesday morning there was a heavy police presence at Wits University.
Police nyalas, several vans and a water cannon were standing in front of Solomon Mahlangu House.
There was also a helicopter hovering above campus. Entry to the campus is controlled and security guards demand students cards before entry.
Only a few students were seen sitting around the steps of Solomon Mahlangu House.
Wits University has maintained that classes will continue as normal.
University spokeswoman Shirona Patel said the police have agreed to deploy resources to most buildings on Tuesday.
“We reiterate that we have met with some student leaders privately and we are committed to engaging students to find a negotiated settlement,” she said.
The Star