South Africa: Students Arrested As Second Day of Protest Begins At Wits

South Africa /allafrica.com / 21 de Septiembre de 2016.

A number of Wits students have been arrested and taken to the Hillbrow Police Station early on Tuesday morning, after protesters vowed to keep the institution unofficially shut down for a second day.

LATEST UPDATE FROM WITS: A number of protesting students at Wits have been arrested. Our reporter @indie_impimpi is amongst those. pic.twitter.com/F4uD9D3xQK – The Daily VOX (@thedailyvox) September 20, 2016

Right before they jumped us & arrested many of us. They took students on the ground protesting peacefully #Fees2017 pic.twitter.com/TQqx6hVARS – Jameel (@indie_impimpi) September 20, 2016

This comes after the protests began at Wits on Monday after Blade Nzimande’s announcement of a proposed 8% increase in fees.

Students were gathered at the Empire Road entrance of Wits, where there was a heavy police and private security presence. Police grabbed students en masse, and pushed them into vans to be taken back to Hillbrow Police Station.

#FeesMustFall2016 WATCH Police have dispersed students. Arresting others. WATCH CM pic.twitter.com/t4RITibHSt – Clement Manyathela (@TheRealClementM) September 20, 2016

Sound familiar to anyone? https://t.co/ZZ6qiOQJHs – Nicky Flake Off (@BarbraStrident) September 20, 2016

The Daily Vox reporter, Mohammed Jameel Abdulla was reporting at the scene, and was also amongst one batch of arrested students, though he was later released. «There were about fourteen of us packed into a van. Police say the arrests were because of contravening an interdict. Students complained about not being able to breathe, and the police sergeant said that if people are not breathing he considers it a win on their part.»

Situation right now from Hillbrow police station #Fees2017 #policebrutality pic.twitter.com/PW2qCGgdfT – Jameel (@indie_impimpi) September 20, 2016

First hand account from one of the arrested protesters at Wits #Fees2017 pic.twitter.com/vAiJaGiHvx – Jameel (@indie_impimpi) September 20, 2016

The students are now awaiting legal representation. A statement released on Monday night by the university has said that there will be «business as usual,» and «heightened security measures to ensure the safety and protection of all.» The SRC has urged students to some out in support of those who have been arrested.

Fuente: http://allafrica.com/stories/201609200209.html