Carlo Petersen and Siyavuya Mzantsi
UNDER the rallying cry of #FeesMustFall, student activists across the country brought universities to a standstill yesterday, occupying key buildings and barricading roads.
At UCT, pandemoniun erupted as students blockaded entrances to the campus; at Rhodes University, students faced stun grenades and tear gas; at Wits University, there were tense stand-offs between the police and students; and at Stellenbosch University, students occupied and renamed a building after Winnie Mandela.
The students are protesting proposed fee hikes for next year. UCT is proposing a 10.3 percent tuition fee increase.
Yesterday afternoon, UCT obtained an interim interdict against students interfering with operations. But by late last night, about 50 students still occupied Bremner Building – despite being warned to leave.
A UCT Fees Must Fall collective of student activists led by Rhodes Must Fall (RMF) barricaded entrances to the university, refusing to allow vehicles on to the campus grounds.
As a result, lectures were disrupted and management suspend all activities for the day.
A student was injured and rushed to hospital after being knocked over when a motorist forced through one of the barricades. The protest was deemed illegal by the university and, later, riot police were called in to stabilise the campus.
Open Stellenbosch (OS) activists occupied Stellenbosch University’s administration building, demanding that a proposed 11.5 percent fees increase for 2016 be “reversed”.
Students took it upon themselves to rename the building after Winnie Mandela.
“We are prepared to stay through the night if need be. We are here indefinitely, until our demand to reverse the fee hike is met,” said OS member Sikulekile Duma.
The action follows a successful campaign at Wits University, where students shut down the entire campus last week, demanding that a tuition fees hike for 2016 be suspended.
Student protesters at Wits occupied Senate House after they were promised feedback from university management on their call for the cancellation of a proposed 10.5 percent tuition fee increase.
The university council refused to engage students and instead instructed the executive management to clear and secure Senate House by 3pm yesterday.
At Rhodes University, police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse protesting students. Rhodes spokesperson Catherine Deiner said classes would be suspended today, as was the case yesterday.
“The university’s management met with the Student Representative Council (SRC). They agreed that students will pay for 20 percent minimum initial payment in January next year. The university is looking for a more flexible payment solution for students,” Deiner said.
At Fort Hare University, students held a mass march after some of them were allegedly informed that they would not be allowed to write their final exams due to outstanding fees.
Fort Hare spokesperson Zinhle Filtane said: “We are not able to comment on this matter at the moment as discussions with the SRC are ongoing. Once a resolution has been reached, we will then issue a media statement.”
Later at UCT, students held acting vice-chancellor Professor Francis Petersen, deputy vice-chancellor Danie Visser, acting deputy vice-chancellor Anwar Mall and head of UCT development and alumni Russell Peters hostage outside the Bremner Building, demanding an emergency council meeting to discuss the students’ demands related to fees and outsourcing of workers.
Asked what his thoughts were on being held hostage by the students, Visser replied: “I don’t see it like that. We are not being held hostage. This is part of a vital dialogue we need to have with the students.”
Visser later asked students if he could sit in the shade due to a heart condition, but students refused, saying: “If we have to stand in the sun and our parents’ ancestors have had to work in the sun, he will also stand in the sun.”
Later students agreed to let Visser sit in the shade.
“The university is deeply concerned about the fact that the protesters broke through a locked gate and illegally occupied Bremner Building in Middle Campus,” said UCT spokesperson Patricia Lucas.
“We hope that this court order convinces the students to vacate the premises. We are willing to discuss any and all matters with the protesters, but it is critical that the university returns to full operation.”