Wits Protests: Student Allegedly Shot with Live Round and Wounded
- A Wits University student has been injured during the nationwide protests against financial exclusion
- The Student Representative Council at the university claimed that the student was shot with a live round of ammunition
- Police have denied the allegations, stating that only teargas had been used to disperse the 'volatile' crowd
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A student has been shot and injured, allegedly by a live round, during the Wits University protests. The Wits SRC stated that the young lady had been shot in the knee and the bullet went right through her leg.
She was subsequently rushed to a hospital. According to the SRC, the police had opened fire at them without prior warning, which resulted in the wounding of the student. The police allegedly threw teargas to disperse a large crowd of students.
Police are reportedly denying any claims that shots were fired, let alone a live round of ammunition.
Source: Getty Images
According to a report by eNCA, Wits SRC president Mpendulo Mfeka stated that the student who was shot is critical, adding that he hopes she will be stable soon and will be able to walk again after she's discharged from hospital.
IOL reported that Police Spokesperson Brigadier Vish Naidoo stated that officers had not fired shots at the students who were protesting in Braamfontein. Naidoo added that a smoke grenade had been used to disperse the crowd and water cannons were used in other incidents.
Briefly.co.za has been reporting on the protests extensively, which started at Wits. The protests began last week and, unfortunately, resulted in the death of an innocent bystander, Mthokozisi Ntumba.
Students at the University of Cape Town also planned to shut the campus down due to the financial exclusion of some students. The students are focusing on the lack of funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
The students held a mass meeting with many different topics being discussed. Reports say that the Student Representative Council (SRC) stated that there are around 2 500 students struggling with financial exclusion.
Most recently, 26 universities joined in on the protest action in the nationwide shutdown. The students want historical debt to be abandoned and for their voices to be heard. Reports say the SAUS met with Deputy Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela to share their memorandum of demands.
Although a number of universities participated in the protests, the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) took a bold stance by not participating in the nationwide protests against financial exclusion. TUT said it supports the call for free education but it will not be taking part in the #NationalShutdown.
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Source: Briefly News
