Last week, you might have noticed the #WitsFeesMustFall hashtag. It was a result of action by students at the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa in response to proposals for a 10.5 percent fee increase at the university. Despite the university’s decision to suspend the increase for the purpose of negotiations, there is a growing movement of students protesting in universities across the country and the hashtags #FeesMustFall and #NationalShutDown are gaining momentum.
On Monday, students from the University of Witwatersrand, Rhodes University and the University of Cape Town held rallies in opposition to plans to increase tuition fees. The protests have led to the shutdown of campuses as well as public roads — and they’re spreading. There have been reports of a heavy police presence at a number of institutions, with tensions increasing. Tuesday saw the arrests of students at the University of Cape Town. Students have reported coming under violent attack from police as well as members of the public. Some of the universities have even sought to obtain court orders to prevent students from protesting.
In addition to rising fees, students are protesting to highlight a number of issues, including the outsourcing of labour and the need to decolonize education. These protests follow closely behind protests earlier this year against where South African university students rallied against remnants of apartheid in the education system. Racial inequities remain a problem in South Africa, with the average income of black families lower than that of white families. A major concern of the protesters is that poorer black students, in particular, will be excluded from education by the higher fees.
The protests are continuing today, with students and supporters surrounding parliament demanding answers from the Education Minister, Blade Nzimande. As ever, Twitter is enabling voices on the ground and in the midst of the protests to be heard. The tweets below are from Twitter accounts that you can follow to stay informed:
https://twitter.com/simphiwedana/status/656799727162380288
I've never been prouder to be a South African youth until now. Solidarity is key. #CorruptionMustFall #FeesMustFall
— shai (@ryeschwarma) October 21, 2015
Why must state response to protesting youth be brute force? They want to be heard. Govt must listen. #FeesMustFall https://t.co/GuuOfrLvW5
— Lindiwe Mazibuko (@LindiMazibuko) October 21, 2015
We will remember how the ANC ignored the student at their door steps. This is a defining moment in our history. #FeesMustFall
— Bokang Maragelo (@BokangWrote) October 21, 2015
https://twitter.com/TheGirlintheAvi/status/656812324129521664
Students are now singing struggle songs pic.twitter.com/tx8Xeqi59Z
— raeesa pather (@raediology) October 21, 2015
#FeesMustFallForAll explosive warning shots have been fired outside Parliament @TimesLIVE @SundayTimesZA pic.twitter.com/gqkIAVsxCR
— Gabi Mbele™ (@TheGabi) October 21, 2015
Rhodes lecturers and professors gearing up to march with students #RhodesFeesMustFall #WitsFeesWILLFall pic.twitter.com/EtyK5HCMvf
— T h e J o u r n e y …🎙 (@Sisipho__) October 21, 2015
The WHOLE Stellenbosch is here – white black red Christian Muslim! THIS IS TRANSFORMATION!! #StelliesFeesMustFall pic.twitter.com/dInYlqXcMK
— Portia Moemedi (@PortiaMoemedi) October 21, 2015
Police have fired rubber bullets at protestors at parliament entrance where MPs leave. This is students now pic.twitter.com/Fc1VwDRh6w
— raeesa pather (@raediology) October 21, 2015
I'll just leave this here. pic.twitter.com/hu8X8S6iMS
— Nomboniso Gasa (@nombonisogasa) October 21, 2015
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