You are currently browsing the monthly archive for November 2007.
Several weeks ago, almost 500 students at Witwatersrand University attempted to get management to reduce annual fee increases. Many students were not pleased with the recently announced increases. Rumours of the privatisation of residences were also circulating around campus, adding to the tension.
A protest was organised by several student groups. It was though this was the best way tp present their grievances to management.
They planned to disrupt regular classes as part of the protest, bringing the university to a standstill.
University fees are going up by an average of 10% a year. While this is high, causing trouble for many students, it is no higher than the general inflation rate of the country.
Regardless of how much of a government subsidy it receives, or how much cash it takes in, a University is always spending money.
This rationalizes the fee increase but that does not make it any easier on students who are already struggling.
There were some students who acted irresponsibly during the protest. But, for the most part, it seemed to be well organised and non-aggressive. For the first few hours there was almost a jocular atmosphere. What changed, I don’t know. By the time I caught up, two students had been arrested. New SRC treasurer Andile Makholwa and outgoing SRC president Mbali Hlope were taken into custody.
They were ostensibly arrested on charges of assault. Their real crime was to lose control of the mob they were supposed to be directing.
The presence of the police only exacerbated the situation. It was a serious error of judgement for the authorities to have been called onto campus.
Head of Wits Security, Rob Kemp, later admitted to having placed the phone call.
Although they flexed their collective muscles, the students really accomplished very little at the end. Several weeks later, it is like it never happened at all.
For more information on the wits protests take a look at these articles:
Chaos’ at Wits during student protests (M&G)
Protests, talks at Wits to continue (M&G)
Wits students arrested (News24)
