Johannesburg – Even though the Witswatersrand University (Wits) academic programme has been suspended again students protesting for free education said they plan to meet on campus Wednesday at the Great Hall.
While university management has agreed to suspend the academic programme until Monday, the students said they will meet at the Great Hall, which they refer to as “Solomon Mahlangu House”.
After their meeting students would meet the mediators, who have so far brokered a truce after running battles between students and police on Tuesday, when lectures resumed after more than two weeks of closure.
Although Wits management had insisted lectures would continue on Wednesday after the intervention of mediators – who include former Wits students – an agreement was reached late Tuesday to suspend the academic programme.
“Mediators and management will meet at 1pm to plan for Friday’s general assembly and Iron out details of agreement,” Wits spokeswoman Sherona Patel said.
Wits said it agreed to suspend the academic programme in order to avoid a repeat of the chaotic scenes on Tuesday in which police fire rubber bullets and used tear gas and stun grenades to disperse hundreds of protesting students, who were trying to prevent those attending lectures from doing so.
At least three female students were seen topless as they pleaded with the police to stop shooting at them.
Two arrested students were released after the intervention of Advocate Dali Mpofu, who is also the chairperson of the Economic Freedom Fighters party.
Patel said despite the academic programme being suspended until Monday staff will be allowed to come in to work.
The protests started more than two weeks ago after Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande announced that state universities could hike next year’s fees, capped at eight percent.
President Jacob Zuma this week announced that the government will fund the R2.5 billion shortfall that will result from not increasing fees for students that cannot afford the hikes.
On Wednesday morning police stationed inside the the Wits campus were withdrawn.
African News Agency