University protests: DA urges calm after students arrested with assault rifle

The Democratic Alliance (DA) have called for students protesting fee-related issues at South Africa’s universities to exercise restraint after two students who were part of the ongoing protests taking place at Wits University in Braamfontein were arrested after they being found in possession of a high-calibre automatic rifle by police who were monitoring the unfolding scenes on Wednesday 17 March. 

Police said that a 24-year-old man and a 21-year-old woman were seen with the weapon before driving away together in a car. Tactical response teams swooped on the would-be  Bonnie and Clyde duo and charged them with illegal weapons related offences. 

Protesting students arrested with assault rifle  

South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson Brigadier Mathapelo Peters said in a statement on Wednesday that the pair had been among a group gathered in braamfontein, where student protests last week led to the death of an innocent bystander, Numb, allegedly by several police officers. 

“Police have for the past week been on high alert monitoring protests by students of various tertiary institutions in Gauteng Province, particularly in Johannesburg. A Crime Intelligence report about a dangerous weapon was operationalised and led police to a gathering in Braamfontein where students were in attendance,” said Peters. 

“It is at this gathering where members observed two students in Stiemens Street carrying an automatic rifle. The officers kept close watch and saw the pair drive off in a vehicle. The car was followed and ultimately stopped by the Johannesburg Flying Squad and the Tactical Response Team in Auckland Park.”

Peters said that when police searched the vehicle, they found a “Galil” automatic rifle of Israeli-make, with a loaded magazine.

DA urges calm  

The DA’s Chantel King, Shadow Minister for Higher Education, Science & Technology, said that students must keep “level heads” and refrain from violence as they exercise their right to protest. 

“While the concerns of students are legitimate, the use of violent and possibly criminal tactics must be condemned,” she said. 

“The DA calls on student representatives to go back to the negotiation table with NSFAS, the Department of Higher Education and tertiary institutions to find a solution before more lives are lost.”

King also said that politicians must themselves keep a cool head, and stop using the current unrest at SA’s universities to push their own agendas. 

“Furthermore, we call on politicians to stop using the plight of students to push their narrow political agendas. What is required now is fruitful engagements in order to prevent any national shutdowns and to ensure a smooth start to the 2021 tertiary academic year,” she said.