University students clash with police in Johannesburg

By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNESBURG (AA) - Students at the Witwatersrand University in Johannesburg clashed with the police Tuesday on the second day of protests against tuition fee hikes.

Students were seen throwing stones at university security guards and anti-riot police officers who responded by firing teargas.

Earlier in the day, police also fired stun grenades and arrested 31 students for blocking the university entrance.

It was not possible for Anadolu Agency to ascertain if there were any students injured during the clashes.

Students Representative Council Secretary General Fasiha Hassan said in a statement that students had faced the worst kind of police brutality and violence.

She claimed the arrested students were peacefully protesting before they were apprehended.

Students began protesting Monday afternoon after Higher Education Minister, Blade Nzimande announced that there would be a tuition hike for the 2017 academic year.

He said universities would individually decide to increase fees but they should not exceed 8 percent.

Students were infuriated by the announcement, saying their demands for a no fee hike and free education had not been met.

“We could not afford the fees in 2015, and we still can’t afford them today. Thus we are calling for free, quality and equal education,” Fasiha Hassan said in a statement mailed to Anadolu Agency Monday.

Last year, thousands of students marched to the seat of government - the Union buildings in the capital, Pretoria to protest against a proposed tuition hike for the 2016 academic year.

Protesting under the banner #FeesMustFall, students called for free tertiary education.

Lectures were suspended at several universities across the country, while university properties worth millions of rands were vandalized.

After days of protests, President Jacob Zuma announced there would not be any tuition fee hike for the 2016 academic year.

University students across the country have vowed to join their colleagues in solidarity protests against the fee hikes.