• News
  • Sport
  • TV
  • Radio
  • Education
  • TV Licences
  • Contact Us

For all official information and updates regarding COVID-19, visit the South African Department of Health's website at www.sacoronavirus.co.za

No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • SCI-TECH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION
Home Features Higher Education students protests Multimedia

TIMELINE: Students intensify their protest

15 March 2021, 2:06 PM  |
Tshepiso Moche Tshepiso Moche |  @sabcnews
In March 2013, seven accused police officers were found not guilty of Tatane's murder.

In March 2013, seven accused police officers were found not guilty of Tatane's murder.

Image: Sipho Kekana

In March 2013, seven accused police officers were found not guilty of Tatane's murder.

What started as a peaceful protest by frustrated Wits University students over the financial exclusion of some students due to historical debt, has claimed a life of a non-protesting bystander in Braamfontein, Johannesburg on Wednesday.

On Sunday, March 7, the university through its Twitter account announced that the academic year would get under way from Monday, 8 March 2021.

 

?Wits University’s academic year begins on Monday, 8 March 2021. 35 000 students are registered for the 2021 academic year. The academic programme will take place online for the first semester for the most part, with only a fraction of the students returning to campus. pic.twitter.com/uTUqopMiY8

— Wits University (@WitsUniversity) March 7, 2021

This was despite concerns raised by some students over the exclusion of those with historical debt.

At that time, Wits University says it has made R10 million available to help students experiencing financial hardship and who have historical debt of up to R 120 000.

But students are calling for the financial exclusion cap to be increased to R150 000.

On Monday, #Witsasinamali (we don’t have money) gathered momentum with some social media users pledging their support for the students.

On Tuesday, protesting students rejected suggestions that the National Students Financial Aid Agency Scheme (NSFAS) has run out of money.

Earlier in the week, government said there was a shortfall in the National Student Financial Aid Scheme.

#WitsProtest dominating social media trends:

From Wednesday onwards, the #WitsProtest dominated Twitter trends throughout the week.

 

 

What a system? What a crime!

#Witsasinamali
#WitsProtest
#wits

Posted by Castro Ntobeko Ngobese on Wednesday, 10 March 2021

 

Videos and pictures of protesting students being manhandled and at some point being shot at with rubber bullets by SAPS officers were making the rounds on social media.

 

#FREELWAZINTOMBELA @lwazintombela pic.twitter.com/z815iFkj8J

— Bonga Makhanya (@BongaOfficial) March 10, 2021

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Kharma (@kharma_rsa)

The hashtag caught the attention of some top officials including Public Protector Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane.

Mkhwebane took to Twitter to call on Police Minister Bheki Cele and the South African Human Rights Commission to intervene.

 

Minister of Police and @SAHRCommission to intervene and act to make sure that Wits students are protected from violence at the hands of SAPS and University Management. We cannot have a country where our young people are brutalized by state and its institutions. #WitsAsinamali

— Adv Busisiwe Mkhwebane (@AdvBMkhwebane) March 10, 2021

Around midday, as police were firing rubber bullets trying to disperse the protesting students, a 35-year-old Mthokozisi Ntumba was shot and killed allegedly by the police.

In video footage that has surfaced, a police Nyala can be seen stopping next to a group of people and police officers opening fire at very close range.

Ntumba can be seen in the footage running for cover together with other people next to a parked vehicle after being shot at.

He was not part of the protesting students and he was coming from a clinic.

The 35-year-old died few minutes after the shooting.

Eyewitness reports say the person killed at the protest in Braamfontein was not a student:

Hashtag #MthokozisiNtumba #AndriesTatane trended on Thursday:

The shooting of Ntumba put police brutality under the spotlight yet again, with many reliving the moment when police officers shot and killed Andries Tatane in the Free State during a service delivery protest in 2013.

Others have likened the shooting of Ntumba with the shooting of Marikana mineworkers in 2012.

Many have called on SAPS to act against the officers, saying police brutality cannot be tolerated any longer.

On Thursday evening, students held a candlelight vigil at the spot where Mthokozisi was fatally shot  in Braamfontein.

The video below is on the night vigil held in Braamfontein for Mthokozisi Ntumba: 

#TitoMboweni trending on Wednesday

Finance Minister Tito Mboweni sent out a tweet on Wednesday saying according to the information he has received, there was no student who had been killed.

“According to information is that no student was killed,” said the minister in a tweet.

He described news that a person had been shot and killed during the student protest as ‘fake news’.

After receiving criticism from the public, the minister deleted the tweet and sent out another tweet apologising for his earlier tweet.

“My earlier tweet about the Wits protest meant to indicate that the person killed is not a student. But this does not in any way diminish the fact and tragedy of a loss of life. I did not express myself clearly and for that, I apologise. My deepest condolences,” reads the apology.

Some rejected the minister’s apology saying Ntumba died under the government which Mboweni is serving under.

 

APOLOGY: My earlier tweet about the Wits protest meant to indicate that the person killed today was NOT a student but this does not in any way diminish the fact and tragedy of a loss of life.
I did not express myself clearly and for that I apologize. My deepest condolences.

— Tito Mboweni (@tito_mboweni) March 10, 2021

On Monday morning, March 15, police cleared roads after students from the University of Johannesburg (UJ) blockaded several roads with burning tyres around the SABC in Auckland Park, Johannesburg.

The South African Students Congress (Sasco) and the Economic Freedom Fighters Student Command have also threatened to shut down all institutions of higher learning on Monday.

Share article
Tags: WitsBraamfonteinWits UniversityFinancial exclusion
Previous Post

Danone Board ousts boss Emmanuel Faber

Next Post

TUT students won’t be joining nationwide fees protest, for now

Related Posts

A SASSA card.

More people to qualify for the R350 Social Relief of Distress grant

18 August 2022, 11:43 AM
SABC building in Auckland Park.

Parly’s Communications Committee hopes to appoint new SABC Board ‘within time’

18 August 2022, 11:28 AM
File Image: Eight-year-old Tazne van Wyk.

State to continue cross-examination of accused in Tazne van Wyk trial

18 August 2022, 10:02 AM
[File Image] A woman protests in front of the Bangladesh parliament building over rising incidents of rape in the country.

Krugersdorp gang-rape survivor feels forgotten

18 August 2022, 9:42 AM
[File Image] A suspect's hands are shown in handcuffs.

Police confident expert will link fifth suspect to Hillary Gardee murder case

18 August 2022, 8:09 AM
A South African Police Services logo.

Three female security guards found following search

18 August 2022, 7:40 AM
Next Post
Students want the institution to register those with historical debts with immediate effect.

TUT students won't be joining nationwide fees protest, for now

Most Viewed

  • 24hrs
  • Week
  • Month
  • EMS says fire at Bree Street Taxi Rank in Johannesburg has been extinguished
  • The public has until 18 May to make submissions on Icasa’s regulations for extension of expiry period for data, airtime
  • ANC NEC expected to hold a special meeting on Sunday
  • Eastern Cape flood victims plead for support as access to food, services remains difficult
  • Amathole Regional Secretary elated to have corruption charges against him dropped
  • Pick n Pay launches new supermarket brand
  • Public has two weeks to make comments on proposed changes to pension funds
  • Elon Musk says he is buying Manchester United
  • Home Affairs tightens rules on passport application to curb corruption
  • 14-year-old Eastern Cape learner facing arm amputation after allegedly taking COVID-19 vaccine
  • Home Affairs clamps down on passport fraud and introduces transit visas
  • Mogalakwena Municipality in Limpopo directed to terminate appointment of more than 400 workers
  • Pick n Pay launches new supermarket brand
  • Public has two weeks to make comments on proposed changes to pension funds
  • Elon Musk says he is buying Manchester United

LATEST

Details of Rita Ndzanga's funeral are yet to be communicated.
  • Politics

Struggle veteran Rita Ndzanga passes away


A person opens a wallet with South African bank notes inside.
  • Uncategorized
  • Business

Cosatu says it will exhaust all options during wage talks before resorting to strike action


A view of the roof deck at Timber House, the city's first mass-timber condo building, in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, US, August 16, 2022.
  • Lifestyle

A tree (house) grows in Brooklyn; six-story apartment building has wooden beams


A SASSA card.
  • South Africa

More people to qualify for the R350 Social Relief of Distress grant


SABC building in Auckland Park.
  • South Africa

Parly’s Communications Committee hopes to appoint new SABC Board ‘within time’


The Democratic Alliance party flag can be seen in the above illustration.
  • Politics

DA demotes Natasha Mazonne and announces Siviwe Gwarube as its new Chief Whip


Weather

  • About the SABC
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
  • Advertise
  • Disclaimer
  • Site Map

SABC © 2022

No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • SCI-TECH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION

© 2022

Previous Danone Board ousts boss Emmanuel Faber
Next TUT students won’t be joining nationwide fees protest, for now