Wits university students embark on hunger strike, threaten total shutdown

The students of University of Witwatersrand (Wits) who embarked on a hunger strike on Tuesday said there would be a shutdown if their demands were not met.

Students embarked on the second day of their hunger strike demanding that classes be halted until financial grievances were addressed.

This comes after the students were told by the university management that those with outstanding fees cannot register for their studies this academic year.

“We are demanding that those who owe R100,000 or less to be registered immediately, and we are giving them time to fix it before the end of this week or there will be a shutdown,” Wits student representative council (SRC) President, Sisanda Mbolekwa said.

Wits university steps up security on campus

Mbolekwa said their hunger strike was peaceful and they were surprised to see that the university management called in armed security guards. The university stepped up security on campus, while students embarked on a hunger strike.

Wits vice-principal Professor Andrew Crouch said the university was doing their best to assist students.

He said allowing students with debts of R100,000 or less to register would bring the university to a financial crisis.

Fees must fall activist Mcebo Dlamini, was at Wits to support the SRC and student activists who embarked on a hunger strike over registration and funding issues. He asked the university management to chase the security away.

By African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Devereaux Morkel