Habib is black but doesn't understand our plight - former Wits SRC head

Johannesburg - Former Wits SRC president Mcebo Dlamini, known for his controversial Hitler remarks, has criticised Wits vice chancellor Adam Habib for not understanding the plight of protesting students, despite being black himself.

Dlamini was addressing students during their third day of protest.

"For the past three days, we were left with insults from this man [Habib]. The reason we are here is because we love our parents and we know they can't pay," Dlamini said.

"Black lives don't matter in this university and unfortunately those who are rich are white. But Habib is black [and] he doesn't understand."

Dlamini told students they were not going to let Habib leave until he reversed the fee hikes.

However, Habib told SRC president Nompendulo Mkatshwa that he did not have the power to reverse the increase.

He arrived at 10:00 to address students but had still not done so by 13:00.

Habib had left a higher education summit taking place in Durban to address the students. He stood composed as students hurled insults at him, some of them shouting "voetsek" and raising their middle fingers.

Wits students started their protest on Wednesday morning following the university's decision to increase tuition and accommodation fees.

As a result, the university was forced to suspend classes. The university did so again on Friday, with only its medical school campus in operation.

Students have vowed to continue the protest if their demands are not met.

In May, Dlamini caused controversy when he stated during an interview that white South Africans are worse than Hitler, Education Minister Blade Nzimande is anti-black, Wits University is an animal farm and he will never work for the fathers of "arrogant Zionist Jewish kids.

This article first appeared on News24 – see here.