An offer by the University of Witwatersrand to hold an imbizo following violent clashes between protesting students and police has been scuttled due to threats.
“The University offered to hold an imbizo‚ a two way engagement facilitated by a neutral facilitator within a time frame. However‚ this cannot be brought about through threats‚” said Wits spokesperson Shirona Patel.
“We cannot allow students to violate the rules of the University and bring about an imbizo through threats. This is not democratic behaviour‚” she added.
She said the Dean of Students had engaged with the student leaders and asked to put forward 20 representatives to engage with management‚ but that the students had not taken up the offer.
Patel said that following the disruption of classes on the Parktown and Braamfontein campuses on Monday morning‚ hundreds of students had gathered outside the Great Hall‚ demanding access to Solomon House‚ even though the university had allocated designated areas for protest.
“The students started throwing sizeable rocks that could have maimed or killed people. The police dispersed the crowd using stun grenades‚ teargas and water cannons. Some of the crowd remain outside the Great hall while others have since dispersed into Braamfontein.
“Two arrests were made this morning and some minor injuries have been reported‚” Patel said.
She said that several of Wits’ classes on various campuses were continuing on Monday‚ albeit with low numbers.
Wits offer for imbizo with protesting students scuttled by threats
An offer by the University of Witwatersrand to hold an imbizo following violent clashes between protesting students and police has been scuttled due to threats.
“The University offered to hold an imbizo‚ a two way engagement facilitated by a neutral facilitator within a time frame. However‚ this cannot be brought about through threats‚” said Wits spokesperson Shirona Patel.
“We cannot allow students to violate the rules of the University and bring about an imbizo through threats. This is not democratic behaviour‚” she added.
She said the Dean of Students had engaged with the student leaders and asked to put forward 20 representatives to engage with management‚ but that the students had not taken up the offer.
Patel said that following the disruption of classes on the Parktown and Braamfontein campuses on Monday morning‚ hundreds of students had gathered outside the Great Hall‚ demanding access to Solomon House‚ even though the university had allocated designated areas for protest.
“The students started throwing sizeable rocks that could have maimed or killed people. The police dispersed the crowd using stun grenades‚ teargas and water cannons. Some of the crowd remain outside the Great hall while others have since dispersed into Braamfontein.
“Two arrests were made this morning and some minor injuries have been reported‚” Patel said.
She said that several of Wits’ classes on various campuses were continuing on Monday‚ albeit with low numbers.
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