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‘No bullet is going to stop us‚’ students leader vows as protest shut TUT

Students from the Tshwane University of Technology's Soshanguve campus during a protest. Picture Credit: Gallo Images
Students from the Tshwane University of Technology's Soshanguve campus during a protest. Picture Credit: Gallo Images

Tshwane University of Technology’s (TUT) main campus in Pretoria West has been shut down by protesting students.

While management had been hoping to reopen the campus on Wednesday‚ following an extended recess‚ students protesting for free education blocked its main entrance with burning tyres.

A number of police monitored the protest from outside the campus‚ while a police helicopter hovered above.

Students resolved at a mass meeting on Tuesday night to shut down the campus and followed this with a night vigil.

TUT management said the GaRankuwa campus has also been shut by protesting students.

Members of the African National Congress-aligned South African Students Congress‚ who had appeared to shun the 2016 round of #FeesMustFall protests‚ are also part of the protest at TUT.

Magnificent Mgwenya‚ secretary of the Economic Freedom Fighters Student Command (EFFSC)‚ has told Sowetan they want TUT officials to join the protests.

“As the EFFSC we have collaborated with other student structures. We’re saying we want fees to fall‚” said Mgwenya.

“We want free quality and decolonised education now. We’re going to shut down this university until [Higher Education and Training Minister] Blade Nzimande answers us. If he doesn’t‚ we’re going to [President] Jacob Zuma. That’s our message.

“We’re saying management of this university must be with us when we march. They’ve released a statement saying they support the call for free education. So we want them to come and march with us.

“Our battle is not against the university‚ that’s why we’re not burning any building or car. We understand that our war is against the government.

“We won’t retreat. No bullet is going to stop us.”

Willa de Ruyter‚ spokeswoman for the university‚ said management has advised staff at the main and GaRankuwa campuses to go home.

“We will continue to monitor the situation at all campuses‚” she said.

 

— TMG Digital/Sowetan

 

 

 

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