Protesting Wits University students tried to break into the main library and the closed cafeteria on the campus as they protested against the slashing of financial aid. Earlier they barged into lecture halls on the east campus turning desks over and tearing up engineering students' exam papers, in a successful bid to halt classes, a reporter on the scene said. Meanwhile a group of Wits academics have written a letter protesting about the heavy police presence on campus. Click on the link below to read the letter.
28 April 2004
Prof Loyisa Nongxa
Vice-Chancellor
University of the Witwatersrand
Dear Prof Nongxa
Some staff members at the university have discussed the events at campus on Monday and this morning and we are outraged at the high-handed attitude taken by the university administration in inviting a large contingent of the South African Police onto the university campus. Police are armed with rifles, have taken up extremely provocative positions in relation to the student protests and have also been circling above the piazza outside the Great Hall with a helicopter.
We are outraged because this is not the tradition of the university. The tradition of Wits has always been to attempt to resolve university disputes internally. Further, it has been a tradition of this university neither to invite nor to even allow police onto the university campus. This was even the case during the 1980s, at the height of the anti-apartheid struggle when Wits was well known for its student protests.
That the university has now seen it fit to entertain the police and allow them to provoke students is unacceptable to us.
The students' protest is one that is legitimate, concerning their very presence at this university. The cut in student subsidies by the shocking amount of fifty percent will penalise the poorest students, force them to terminate their studies and result in Wits becoming an institution that is accessible only to the rich and privileged. This seems very much like Bantu education in a different guise.
We call on you, Sir, to ensure the speedy withdrawal of the police from the university campus and to ensure that students are not provoked or harmed. As members of staff we would offer ourselves as mediators between the management and students as well as to negotiate with students to ensure that the protests are carried out peacefully. Of course, we do not endorse the use of violence in these protests and do not condone the alleged disruptive activities that took place on Monday. We believe that the presence of police and of bouncers (walking around campus like thugs and even harassing staff members) will exacerbate rather than assist in resolving this matter. And an attempt by staff to mediate could assist in calming down tensions and working towards a resolution. We request an urgent meeting with you to discuss the matter. You may call us at your earliest convenience and we will make ourselves available.
We have just learnt that a number of students have been beaten up by police and arrested on West Campus. This is totally unacceptable and is a blight on the name of the university. A resolution is becoming urgent and we think a meeting between us would help.
Yours sincerely
David Monyae (International Relations)
Graham Bailey (Civil Eng)
Na'eem Jeenah (Political Studies)
Noor Nieftagodien (History)
Pier Paolo Frassinelli (English)
Salim Vally (Education)
Jacklyn Cock (Sociology)
Robert Thornton (Anthropology)
David Copelan (Anthropology)
Author
Anonymous (not verified)
