Protests, hunger strikes and violence dominate university kick-off
Students at the Durban University of Technology, the University of KwaZulu-Natal and Wits University have embarked on protests over funding woes as the academic year kicked off.
The protests have been marred by altercations between students and law enforcement on the campuses, which allegedly led to the death of a student who was fatally wounded at DUT on Tuesday, February 5.
DUT released a statement notifying students that the university would be closed until further notice due to Tuesday's events, which also left a staff member severely injured.
Cause of death and details of the incident are not yet
— DUT (@DUT_Tweets) February 5, 2019
clear as the matter is still subject to a preliminary investigation by Police
officials. The University is saddened by this unfortunate incident, and due to the sensitivity of this incident the University cannot divulge...
News24 reported that the UKZN SRC said protests would continue at all their campuses until management approached student leadership.
Wits students clashed with security at the Braamfontein Main Campus as protests intensified on the second day. The university beefed up security as students vowed to disrupt classes until their grievances pertaining to fees and accommodation were addressed.
Protesting students also embarked on a hunger strike. Students say they want free accommodation for those affected by historical debt.
Wits management has chosen to reply to the protest by deploying Private Security to unlawfully vacate students and beat us up #WitsHungerStrike pic.twitter.com/fIaxWn4COf
— #WitsHungerStrike (@Wits_SRC) February 5, 2019