Police get 'brutal' with Rhodes protesters

CHARGED: Security officials at the University of Limpopo try to apprehend a student who was involved in a protesters' assembly at the campus. Universities have seen renewed protest action in recent weeks over fees. Picture: ANA

CHARGED: Security officials at the University of Limpopo try to apprehend a student who was involved in a protesters' assembly at the campus. Universities have seen renewed protest action in recent weeks over fees. Picture: ANA

Published Sep 29, 2016

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PORT ELIZABETH: At least 10 students were arrested at Rhodes University in Grahamstown on Wednesday after a protest over fees descended in chaos and violence.

Videos posted on the Oppidan Press online newspaper’s Twitter feed show students being dragged and shot at by police officials.

Oppidan Press online editor Leila Kidson said she had witnessed police react with “brutality” to protesting students.

“The university has been on shutdown since last week. (University) management and students were having discussions which were going well up until yesterday (Tuesday) when they basically just 
said no to all of the demands,” she said.

According to Kidson lectures were meant to resume yesterday, but some students disrupted classes in the law faculty. She said students blocked an intersection, and pandemonium erupted when one of them threw a rock at a police vehicle.

“Police started shooting, and students started running back on to campus, but even once students had run away, police continued to shoot over the hedge.

“A student tried to jump over a wall, but he was pulled back and dragged by police; I saw students shot in the head and the arm – people were bleeding,” she said.

Police spokesperson Luvuyo Mjekula confirmed 10 students had been arrested.

“Five of the students 
were arrested on charges relating to violating a court interdict. The other five students are being charged with malicious damage to property,” he said. – ANA

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