Tshwane - Thousands of students took their nationwide #FeesMustFall protests to the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Thursday, as they marched to hand over a memorandum of demands, despite the Tshwane Metro Police Department declaring the march illegal.
The march was joined by high school learners from different townships around Tshwane and workers.
Police monitored closely monitored the group throughout the entire proceedings.
“We decided let the students march and hand over their memorandum because we didn’t want them to start acting violent and maybe disrupt the CBD,” TMPD spokesperson Senior Superintendent Isaac Mahamba said.
Stun grenade has just gone off, dispersing crowds of students #UnionBuildings @IOL pic.twitter.com/baHVCJt42E
— IG: MojoIOL (@MojoIOL) October 20, 2016
The students gathered outside the Union Buildings and we addressed by various #FeesMustFall leaders. Their attempts of handing a memorandum failed as they refused to hand it over to anyone except Minister of Higher Education Blade Nzimande.
“We want Blade and we want free education,” they shouted.
They attempted to get violent by throwing stones at police but they were quickly dispersed when a couple of stun grenades were fired.
“We demand end to oppression in our universities, victimisation of student leaders. We believe it’s been a main factor fuelling violence in universities. There is no way out of a genuine and legitimate demand for free education for all and now,” said Mametlwe Sebei from the workers and socialist party
Students are now gathered at the #UnionBuildings @IOL pic.twitter.com/9gu4zVl1XE
— IG: MojoIOL (@MojoIOL) October 20, 2016
“Government has to respond and engage students, we are willing to engage as long as that negotiation is about how do we make free education for all possible,” Sebei said.
The students said they will find another way of handing the memorandum to the minister. They vowed to continue protesting until their demands were met.
African News Agency