Johannesburg - University students and workers across the country were expected to go on nationwide protests on Friday over the disappearance of an Eastern Cape student activist.
#OutsourcingMustFall activist Vusi Mahlangu went missing earlier this week, and the police are investigating a case of kidnapping.
The police are trying to track his cellphone, which he last used to send a message to a #FeesMustFall WhatsApp group to tell fellow activists he might have been arrested or kidnapped.
Mahlangu is one of the activists who have been trying to end outsourcing and push for free education at the Walter Sisulu University of Technology (WSU). When he went missing, he was on his way to meet some workers.
Now, students and workers at various campuses are planning to protest over his alleged kidnapping and demand he be released. The protests were expected to start at midday.
Activist Thenjiwe Mswana said protests would be held at all higher education campuses across the country from noon. Students and workers were to march to their nearest police station.
“In Mthatha, where Vusi disappeared, the workers and students will march to the office of the security company believed to have been involved in the kidnapping,” Mswana said.
The private security company was hired by WSU during the #FeesMustFall protests.
“Other than calling for Vusi’s release, the protesters will also be calling for the removal of private security companies from all campuses,” Mswana said.
WSU spokeswoman Yonela Tukwayo said allegations against the security company were being treated as just that.
“We have been made aware of the allegations against the company. It says it has had absolutely nothing to do with the disappearance.”
Tukwayo said the company has tracking devices in all its cars and none could be linked to Mahlangu’s disappearance.
She said the university had deployed extra security for Friday’s march.
@TebogoMonama
The Star