South Africa

South Africa

#FeesHaveFallen: Cape Town’s day of confusion and misinformation

#FeesHaveFallen: Cape Town’s day of confusion and misinformation

A somewhat quieter day in Cape Town reached a surprising crescendo just as President Jacob Zuma was announcing a zero percent increase in university fees. Students were injured in clashes with police and later announced that they intended taking the SAPS to court. A student leader at UWC, meanwhile, told Daily Maverick the struggle was far from over, although it would likely focus on negotiation from here on out. However, a lack of clear coordination in student leadership is complicating matters. By MARELISE VAN DER MERWE.

During the course of Friday, the most dramatic events surrounding the #FeesMustFall protests were concentrated around the Union Buildings, and Cape Town had calmed to a tense simmer. Protests continued in the city centre, in Stellenbosch and on UWC campus, following a standoff between police and students in the latter location the night before, where water cannons, teargas and stun grenades had been fired. Police said the protestors burnt tyres, blockaded Robert Sobukwe Drive, and damaged at least two police vehicles on Thursday night.

By 2pm on Friday, tension had mounted in Stellenbosch, where Helen Zille was escorted from a march in a police van, amid protesters shouting at her to “voetsek”.

By mid-afternoon, traffic had been brought to a standstill on the way to Cape Town International airport, where UWC students were marching from campus. At around 4:45pm, News24 caused deep concern by stating on its live update page that police had been authorised to use lethal force; this turned out to be an ambiguous choice of words, however, referring to a legal position in the Civil Aviation Act rather than a direct order.

Protesters on Twitter were noticeably distressed, pleading with their comrades to return from the airport in case they came to harm. The @UWCStudent account Tweeted,

TO ALL #UWC STUDENTS: PLEASE COME BACK HOME!!! CIVIL AVIATION ACT ALLOWS FOR YOU TO BE JAILED AND SHOT AT! COME HOME”

while individual allies reiterated a similar message. Additionally, there were calls for assistance for injured protestors. @ZintleSizani sent out numerous calls, among them the following:

Zintle ?@ZintleSizani

Hope the ambulance arrives on time. These are students. Unarmed students.

Zintle ?@ZintleSizani

I tried 10177 they put me on hold.

Zintle ?@ZintleSizani

I got through to them they’re sending an ambulance on the way. #UWC

Others corroborated the need for medical assistance for injured protesters and called for students to return to campus.

#BurnItUp30thOct ?@_BonitaB

#UWCShutDown LAWYERS & MEDICAL ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED NEAR THE AIRPORT

According to protesters, they began marching to the airport before President Jacob Zuma announced a 0% fee increase. During the march, they clashed with police, and began running into the homes of community members nearby. However, they did ultimately retreat, fearing serious repercussions, and return to campus.

That said, student leaders say they are not ready to cease protesting. The @UWCStudent account Tweeted,

UWC Student ?

Despite a 0% increase – PHASE 2 is now to get fees decreased. Fees remain the same amount. This is nothing to celebrated.

UWC student leader Mangaliso Nompula told Daily Maverick the students were apprehended by police in Bishop Lavis. According to Nompula, student leaders remained behind, in an attempt to prevent vandalism, while another group went ahead.

The communication did not go to all students. Another group went in front so we were sent to go and stop vandalism and have a peaceful strike. We were on our way running when we heard people were being shot [at] and sprayed and teargas thrown… everyone dispersed into the location, shacks and toilets.”

Nompula says the intention was for the strike to remain peaceful, but that matters quickly escalated. “In a serious organised – or disorganised – mess like this, you cannot hold everyone’s hand,” he said. “It only takes one soul to disrupt on one side or the other…”

According to Nompula, once the protesters had scattered, police began searching for them inside community members’ homes, although Daily Maverick was unable to verify this independently.

During the chaos, three student leaders, including Nompula, apparently surrendered, and called hiding protestors out. Discussions allegedly began between police and student leaders, mediated by a member of the community.

Nompula said despite the volatile beginning, it had ultimately been possible to defuse the situation and negotiate with police.

We had a conversation with the police and they said we must regroup and they would escort us back to campus,” he said.

Eventually, all the students returned.

It may be a fragile truce, however, since other members of the UWC leadership have threatened to take legal action against the SAPS. According to Nompula, this intention stood on Friday for some leaders.

Back on UWC campus, some protesters were visibly injured and receiving medical attention. When Daily Maverick arrived at UWC, a group of protesters was noticeably distressed, having learned that another member of the movement had publicly begun discussions with a prominent politician without consulting them. Nompula expressed concern, too, that the #FeesMustFall movement could suffer without coordinated leadership. “A leader can lead from behind, after all,” he said. On Thursday, a student leader at UCT had expressed a similar concern, stating that the movement could be more powerful if there were clearly coordinated leadership representing the country, and a structured strategy moving forward.

Nompula said that although the object was to protest peacefully, the UWC students intended to continue fighting for a decrease in fees. “If we allow that [the 0% increase], if we agree on that, then what is that?” he said. “It means we say that is okay. But we are not fighting about this increase only. We are fighting that the university must delete any increase that has taken place from 2011, even in individual modules.”

He said the protesters had been dissatisfied with Vice-Chancellor Professor Tyrone Pretorius’s earlier address. “The rector came and addressed us as a behavioural psychologist,” he said. “But there is a separation between upper and lower class. The reality is that he stands his ground. He came and said he ‘wishes’ the school to buy back Kovacs. He said with the exams, he ‘provisionally’ shifts it. He’s just playing with words. People who are previously disadvantaged are not familiar with the context of such language. We are in political terrain here.”

Asked why the protesters chose to march to a National Key Point, Nompula said: “There’s this thing. There is a dog here, and there is an owner, the master. The dog is the rector, and I mean that only figuratively. The rector will only address the issues in the university, but the holistic view is free education. The only person who will address the holistic issue is the president. That is why we went to the airport.”

Both the University of Stellenbosch and UWC confirmed on Friday that they would postpone exams by a week in order to give students extra time to prepare. At UWC, exams were expected to start on 2 November. Stellenbosch University, meanwhile, issued an apology to its students and lifted its interdict.

Late on Friday, UWC promised to take the students’ ongoing concerns into account, following a meeting between Pretorius, the management team and student representatives.

The University of the Western Cape (UWC) acknowledges the President’s address on the 0% increase of university fees. The University will examine the proposals by national government and liaise with its internal stakeholders and Council on how the decision will affect the University,” it said in a statement. According to the statement, management was awaiting a memorandum from student representatives and would consult with key stakeholders on how to address the issues raised.

The University has been in full support of the national campaign and with the Student Representative Council we need to find long term sustainable solutions,” said Pretorius.

I had an opportunity to listen to the students’ concerns, where it was stated that the 0% increase was not the only reason for their protest but that it provided a platform to raise other pertinent issues affecting them.”

Nompula said the student leaders would take their cue from the student body regarding how to proceed. “You cannot dictate what students want. The mandate must come from students,” he said. DM

Photos by Marelise van der Merwe.

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