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by Yacoob Cassim
Wits finds itself in the middle of turmoil as students and the Department of Higher Education fail to come to an agreement. The University of Witswaterstrand found itself being a theatre to acts of violence and police clashes that would have put Thahrir Square Protests in Cairo in 2011 to shame. With the exception of tear gas and tanks however the clashes that have occurred showed absolute brutality as students used rocks and other forms of weapons against police wielding batons and dressed in riot gear. However as it stands, the University pressed ahead with announcing that classes would resume today as they could not waste any time for students who wanted to learn.
On the other hand the Parents who are still paying for their children’s education while not being able to see them complete their studies say they want those students who are protesting to take the matter to the government rather than do so at the University. Most parents have lost patience with the horror the current situation has brought. Some have indicated that – if possible – they would send their children abroad to complete their studies, if the violence continues. But what about those families and student who are unable to do so?
Students have called upon parents, civil society, religious leaders and the public sector to join them in their cause, as they say they have to carry on. The Students through their leaders such as Mcebo Dlamini have stated they would ensure that the University will remain closed. This matter can only be resolved through dialogue. The students should take their case to the Department of Higher Education in Pretoria.
Another matter is that they say they still care about the institution. As Dlamini has said “There is no way they will open. On Friday we asked to engage and we are still waiting for them and up until today they have not met with anyone. We are willing to negotiate and they are operating in bad faith.” On the other hand if University Authorities had engaged with the relevant student representatives before the beginning of the week the unfortunate events that started yesterday could have been avoided.
Most lecturers have been terrified by the behaviour and actions of the protesting students as they tried to storm the Great Hall at the Institution.
Some Lecturers such as Social Sciences Lecturer Kelly Gillespie had met earlier in the day to discuss the situation. “We are seeing more police on Campus than the other day, including K-9 units, so we are not feeling hopeful.”
This has indeed taken on an authoritarian situation as some have said that the police have been deployed in large numbers. Meanwhile parents and students alike are pressuring the University’s Vice Chancellor Adam Habib to come to a compromise for everyone’s sake.