Johannesburg - Students from the University of Witwatersrand were shot at and injured during clashes with the police during a march on campus on Thursday.
The Wits Student Representative Council (SRC) said students were singing peacefully on campus when police fire at them with rubber bullets. They also used teargas.
Student said former SRC president Shaeera Kalla was shot at least nine times even though she held her hands up.
University spokeswoman Shirona Patel confirmed the shooting and said Kalla was taken to hospital.
“Reports from campus security is that a student leader was shot nine times by police, Wits security and campus control do not have guns or rubber bullets,” Patel said.
“Several students were treated at campus health and wellness centre and one with a dislocated leg was taken to hospital by the dean of students and campus nurse.”
Patel said protesting students had disrupted a lecture and tore up test papers on the west campus. She said police reacted by dispersing them.
Earlier, the university said a case of arson was being investigated by the police after a section of a library was set alight, damaging at least 100 books. The arson attack happened on Wednesday night.
Hundreds of Wits student were observed leaving the campus. They marched through Braamfontein, but It was not clear where they were headed.
African News Agency