The death of Mthokozisi Ntumbo has not deterred the Wits protests. If anything, the unfortunate event that befell the 35-year-old has cast the light on how, 27 years into democracy, the government continues to fail its people.
The latter is the general sentiment that has led discourse on social media. The widescale public outcry against a government that has yet to emancipate its people has invigorated the EFF-led ‘fees must fall’ movement.
Wits protests: What’s the latest?
On Thursday, in the same streets that Ntumbo laid in as he gasped for life, students continued their picket. Their stance is clear: pave the way for debt-owing students to return to class or face another academic year foiled by their raucous cries.
No retreat, No surrender. We will win! ✊ ✊ ❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/OZ9jTHLCT7
— Wits EFFSC (@WitsEFF) March 11, 2021
Interestingly, this time, the protesters were allowed to exercise their right to demonstrate without the presence of public order police, a totally different sight to what was witnessed in the last week.
After initially taking a confrontational approach to mitigating issues with students, Wits University doubled back and vowed to find a way for debt-owing students to register for the 2021 academic year.
“We remain committed to assisting as many academically talented students as possible to register, within the possibilities of the resources that we have available. We have to ensure that the University remains financially sustainable and that we continue to offer quality higher education,” Wits vice-chancellor Professor Zeblon Vilakazi said.
ANC accused of hijacking fees movement
Meanwhile, the ANC has been cast under the spotlight — as the ruling party — in its complicity in the fees debacle. Police Minister Bheki Cele faced a gruelling Newzroom Afrika interview where he categorically indicated that his hands were tied. From what we know, the officers involved in the killing of Ntumbo are still active on duty and no arrests have been made.
ANC SG Ace Magashule was also seen leading a ‘march’ to the Constitutional Court, in the name of pressuring the government — of which he is a senior influential figure — to expedite the realisation of free education.
This hypocrisy was called out by many, including EFF commissar Mbuyiseni Ndlozi.
SASCO march with Ace Magashule to ConCourt is an attempt to whitewash the fact that his ANC government Police shot students who are protesting peacefully for access to education
— Mbuyiseni Ndlozi (@MbuyiseniNdlozi) March 11, 2021
It’s like expecting Marikana workers to march with Ramaphosa to demand justice on Marikana Massacre
Here are some more reactions we picked out on social media.
Ace Magashule is putting Ramaphosa and Blade under the bus by reminding them of Free Education.
— SOSOBALA KHEKHEKHE II (@PaulMzoxolo) March 11, 2021
Ace Magashule is in court on allegations of fraud and corruption yet he leads university students in a demonstration for free education. This after he’s run down and collapsed an entire province. This is how thieves keep winning in South Africa. https://t.co/O21jH92uL2
— Palesa Morudu (@palesa_morudu) March 11, 2021
SASCO is truly the child of ANC. A few days ago they involved themselves in a fight between Fikile Mbalula and Carl Niehaus and even released a statement to this effect, and TODAY Carl Niehaus and Ace Magashule are at the protest at Wits ADDRESSING students. Guys. Yifilim. Movie.
— Naledi Chirwa (@NalediChirwa) March 11, 2021