Johannesburg police were called to the University of the Witwatersrand on Wednesday as students continued to protest against fee hikes.
”As the students once again disrupted lectures on campus today [Wednesday], the university has been obliged to call the police on to campus in order to protect students and staff who wish to continue with academic and other university activities,” said spokesperson Shirona Patel in a statement.
”The university believes that while students have a right to peaceful protest, the rights of those who wish to continue to attend classes … must also be respected.”
Management and students, represented by the South African Students Congress (Sasco), the Progressive Youth Alliance and the African National Congress Youth League met at midday to discuss a memorandum handed to the university by students on Tuesday.
Students are rejecting a hike in upfront registration fees to R6 000 and want registration fees to be capped.
”Registration fees determine access to the institution … due to the economic recession the increase will deny many students access,” said Sasco president Mawethu Rune.
Students are calling for a moratorium on all fee increases, an investigation into the outsourcing of various services at the institution such as security, catering and cleaning, a probe into the student fee structure and the removal of the vice-chancellor.
”We will continue to engage in demonstration until our noble and rational demands are met,” Rune said.
The proposed fee increase for 2010 averaged between 9% and 9,5%.
Students residing in university residences were likely to pay up to 11,8% more should the proposed fees be imposed next year. — Sapa