EFF to lead shutdown of Tshwane

by | Oct 13, 2016 | Featured 1

EFF CIC, Julius Malema adressinf media at the headquarters in Braamfontein. Photo:Olwethu Boso

EFF CIC, Julius Malema addresses the media at the EFF headquarters in Braamfontein.     Photo: Olwethu Boso

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) commander in chief, Julius Malema has called upon South Africans to join the EFF in shutting down Tshwane.

Malema was speaking at a press briefing at the EFF headquarters in Braamfontein earlier today. He called on South Africans of all creeds and colours to unite in massive protest action in Tshwane on November 2, to defend South Africa’s democracy against state capture and strengthen the call for free education.

Malema said the EFF intends to shut down businesses in Tshwane for the day as the party works towards securing a list of demands.

The first demand that the party intends to make is that the South African government must provide free quality education at higher education level from 2017 onwards.

“Jacob Zuma must immediately step down as President and Head of State in South Africa as well as Shaun Abrahams‚ the NDPP of Zuma‚ must immediately step down from the National Prosecutions Authority,” said Malema.

Finally, the party will demand that the Guptas be disconnected from all state related contracts and must immediately leave South Africa.

Commenting on the current Fees Must Fall protests, Malema said he guarantees that the EFF would continue providing logistical, political, moral and legal support to student activists around the country.

“The only reaction the ANC is willing to give towards the conversation of free education is violent suppression,” he said about President Zuma setting up a task team which consists mainly of the security cluster.

During the briefing Malema announced that he was aware of the police outside the offices to serve him summons for things he had said in Mangaung in 2014.

“They are charging me with the attempt to hide their own inequities.”

 

Bomb scares and flooding at Wits

by | Oct 12, 2016 | News

Following two days of violent clashes between police and student protesters, Wits university spokesperson, Shirona Patel has confirmed that a total of six petrol bombs have been found on campus since last night.

Three petrol bombs were found on West campus on Wednesday morning. “The bombs were found in a backpack by Raikes Gate,” she said.

Last night two petrol bombs were found outside John Moffatt building and another was in the basement of the architecture building. It was set alight but authorities managed to contain and extinguish the fire.

Campus control called in the SAPS at about 5:30am on Wednesday after they had found the backpack containing the 3 three petrol bombs in a dustbin said SAPS spokesperson, Brigadier Sally de Beer.

“The discovery of petrol bombs on campus is an indicator of people wanting to incite violence,” said de Beer.

De Beer could not confirm what case had been opened but said that it could possibly be of public violence. The police investigation continues.

The university also confirmed that on Tuesday there was a false alarm resulting in students being evacuated after reports surfaced that a bomb had been found on campus – it later turned out to be a fire cracker.

Taps in the Central Block bathrooms were left open overnight which led to flooding in the area.

Three weeks of protest…and now a historic general assembly at Wits

by | Oct 6, 2016 | News

 

Students gather around the steps of the Great Hall to listen to former SRC president Mcebo Dlamini. Photo: Laura Pisanello

Students gather around the steps of the Great Hall to listen to former SRC president Mcebo Dlamini.                                                                                                       Photo: Laura Pisanello

After three weeks of protest and shutdown, Wits University will hold a general assembly on Friday, one of only a few in the university’s history.

(more…)

Struggle songs

by | Oct 2, 2016 | Lifestyle

Iyoh Solomon
Solomon
Iyoh Solomon
Solomon Mahlangu
Iyoh Solomon
Wayeyisoja loMkhonto WeSizwe
Wayebulala amaBhunu eAfrika

Azania
From Cape to Cairo
Morocco to Madagascar
Bathi yone iAzania, izwe lethu, solithatha ngebazooka x2
From Cape to Cairo
Morocco to Madagascar
Bathi yone iAzania, izwe lethu, solithatha ngeFreedom Charter
Bathi yone iAzania, izwe lethu, solithatha ngemakaropa

Elilizwe
Elilizwe lookhokho bethu, sizabalazela
Elilizwe labantu abamnyama sizabalazela
Elilizwe Tambo, sizabalazela
Elilizwe labantu abamnyama

Siyaya kwanyamazane
Kwanyamazane siyaya boo
Siyaya Kwanyamazane x2
Baleka, siyaya Kwanyamazane
Ngale toyi toyi
Siyaya Kwanyamazane x2

What about the right to study?

by | Oct 2, 2016 | Opinion

The recent disruptions at Wits this past week have led all of us to a difficult question. Is the goal of free higher education worth the potential destruction of the university, negatively affecting the economy by delaying students from graduating and demoralising lecturers?

From my point of view as a paying student, who has put himself into serious debt to attend varsity, no, it is not. Firstly we all need to understand that higher education, such as university is not a right and never will be. It is a privilege. As a paying student who is not financially well off I can understand the issue that some people face.

Attending varsity is receiving a service for which you must pay. Wits is a self-sustaining entity that cannot survive on government subsidies alone. What’s next? A student is hungry then they should get free Steers just because they want it and all paying Steers customers must leave the Drive Through but can’t take their cars with them? Why?

What did the paying students do? Last I checked Dr Blade[Nzimande] was the minister of higher education and Mr [Pravin] Gordhan was the finance minister. Not the paying students, who are made to feel guilty because they have found a way to fund their education in pursuit of bettering themselves.

If anyone understands the plight of underprivileged students, it’s their fellow students  and Wits staff . However, we are starting to lose sympathy for [protesting students] when we are attacked and locked on campus against our will. The goal of free education, while very unlikely, is a marathon and not a sprint. It has not been achieved by first world countries whose governments have a fraction of the corruption of the South African government.

We all need to understand that burning down what little we have is achieving equality of the lowest standard. It is not how we will progress to a better future and it is not how we will achieve free education, but rather how we destroy a country.

The fight must be taken to the government and not us paying students. We have paid for a service and have the right to receive it, without the fear of physical harm. That is a right no protester may take from us.

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What do the students want?

by | Oct 2, 2016 | Featured 2

Students taking part in the #FeesMustFall protest have outlined internal lists of demands by students.

 

Student leaders at the universities have called for campuses shutdown in response to the announcement made by the higher education minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, earlier last week that there will be a tuition fee increase in 2017.

REVOLUTION: Wits students protest march towards the Chamber of Mines to hand over a memorandum of demands. Photo: Nokuthula Zwane

REVOLUTION: Wits students protest march towards the Chamber of Mines to hand over a memorandum of demands.                                                                                                                           Photo: Nokuthula Zwane

However the proposed 8% fee increase was not well accepted by the students who have demanded free education.
Wits University, University of Cape Town (UCT), University of Pretoria, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, University of Limpopo, University of Johannesburg and Tshwane University of Technology are among the higher education institutions that are experiencing protest action.
Students taking part in the #FeesMustFall protest have outlined internal lists of demands by students.
The common thing that the students are proposing is no financial exclusion of any student at the education institutions, free quality, and decolonising education to students. The students further suggest that the universities must commit to clearance of all the historical debt of the students including the release of all degrees withheld due to fees outstanding.
Safety is still a concern to students. All students across the universities demand the removal of all private security on campuses. They demand that the police must be unarmed on campuses and no legal action should be taken against students who were suspended while participating in the current protest.
Transformation seems to be one of the key issues among other demands. The UCT students suggest that the university needs to look into a class discrimination policy, in conjunction with students, so as to ensure that only those who do not have the financial status to be in private accommodation are accommodated in the residence system.
The workers and students have expressed solidarity and they demand that there should be protection against victimisation for workers participating in protests and they must not be subject to any disciplinary action for partaking in the protest.
The UCT students are demanding that there should be a transparent and consistent insourcing process that includes students as active participants in the process.
Students proposed that accommodation fees should not be paid upfront at residences and students should be allowed to move in upon registration. Wits students have also demanded that residence fees must not increase.
“We will not stop until the ANC delivers on the promises it made 21 years ago,” said Kefentse Mkhari, incoming Wits SRC president.