On Wednesday Wits University shutdown its main campus in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, forcing the university to cancel its academic activities.
Angry students blocked entrances to the university in protest against management’s increased fees by 10.5% next year and the upfront registration fee by 6%.
According to student Mcebo Freedom Dlamini, who was axed earlier this year as president of the student representative council (SRC), increasing fees is unfair. Dlamini told the Mail & Guardian that vice-chancellor Adam Habib must go.
Over 2 000 students participated on the protest. Some expressed their grievances on social media under the hashtag #WitsFeesMustFall and #WitsFees.
#Wits students are going to close all gates. #WitsFeesMustFall #Wits @MG_Reporter Watch here: pic.twitter.com/PawvOAJclM
— Sthembiso Sithole (@SITHOLEEXPRESS) October 14, 2015
. @MG_Reporter Watch latest #WitsFeesMustFall #WitsFees update here: pic.twitter.com/PDMamwOVXF
— Sthembiso Sithole (@SITHOLEEXPRESS) October 14, 2015
Watch: @Soso_Mlengana says “It’s useless to pay a lot of money.” #WitsFeesMustFall #WitsFees @MG_Reporter pic.twitter.com/nkV8DnpP1q
— Sthembiso Sithole (@SITHOLEEXPRESS) October 14, 2015
Students who were not part of the protest wanted to leave the university, but they couldn’t.
One student bus driver was stopped from leaving #Wits campus. #WitsFeesMustFall #WitsFees @MG_Reporter Watch here: pic.twitter.com/4qWxdkfOec
— Sthembiso Sithole (@SITHOLEEXPRESS) October 14, 2015
As expected some students refused to participate on the strike.
We urge people to watch these videos. We will not have the integrity of this protest questioned with no evidence. pic.twitter.com/b8pHuoaF88
— WITS SRC #Oct14 (@WitsSRC) October 14, 2015
Earlier this month almost 2 000 students, workers, and staff gathered to protest Wits’ “exploitative” practice of outsourcing support workers. On Wednesday some cleaners and lecturers joined the protest against fees increases.
One #Wits cleaner has joined the #WitsFees #WitsFeesMustFall @MG_Reporter Watch: pic.twitter.com/5VnvUBI5Cg
— Sthembiso Sithole (@SITHOLEEXPRESS) October 14, 2015
After long hours of student protesting, police were called in to calm the situation.
Habib have you seen this??! ” @ThisIsSebzee: Students assaulted at Wits #WitsFeeMustFall pic.twitter.com/lsS8q7Ieav”
— Calypso (@faith_mamphoka) October 14, 2015
#WitsFeesMustFall was trending the whole day on Wednesday and it was still trending on Thursday morning.
It seems like the protest will continue. Wits SRC sent out this tweet now in the morning.