Lectures were disrupted at Wits University’s east campus on Monday in the midst of a student protest against the slashing of financial aid, Sapa reporters on the scene said.
Students toyi-toyied on the steps of the university’s Great Hall, carrying placards made out of African National Congress election posters and blowing football horns.
The students say they were given a letter last week informing them that their financial aid would be cut by 50% and that they had until mid-year to come up with the difference.
”Black VC [vice-chancellor] takes away financial aid of black students”, ”Wits remembers 1976” and ”50 percent my arse” were some of the messages written on the banners.
Protestors ordered students out of the lecture halls in the arts, engineering and social sciences faculty.
”We will continue until our demands are met,” Students Representative Council president Philemon Lukhele said.
Earlier, African National Congress Youth League member Thembani Maswanganyi said they would continue the protest for the rest of the week.
Police spokesperson Inspector Amanda Roestoff said police were monitoring the situation. – Sapa