DUT students halt classes, threaten journalists

26 September 2016

Durban - Durban University of Technology students brought the city's CBD to a standstill on Monday morning after joining protests against university fees.

A group of around 50 that had gathered on the Ritson campus parking lot marched to the ML Sultan campus to remove commerce students from lectures. Their numbers swelled and a few hundred eventually took to the streets.

One student in EFF regalia said it was time for a revolution.

“We are tired of this fees nonsense. We do not want to pay anything. You know where I come from, my man? Nothing. My family is dirt poor. No cars, no money for taxi or food. We want what everyone else has.”

Students threatened this News24 journalist when they arrived at the ML Sultan Campus. While taking footage of students throwing bins and damaging property, they gestured and made throat-slitting gestures.

Students made their way through the Warwick Triangle, where they stopped traffic at major intersections. They sang struggle songs during their march and stopped traffic en route to the DUT’s arts faculty, City Campus.

Once there, students entered the main quad where various student leaders spoke to them. They said they would shut down the university until a 0% fee increment was announced.

At City campus, a woman claiming to be an ANCYL branch executive committee member threatened journalists.

“No pictures, no videos. You must stop it. If we see it we will come for you," she said.

When asked for her reasons, she did not respond.

Students left City campus and proceeded back to the ML Sultan campus through the Warwick Junction. Here, they threw sticks and rocks at a bus that refused to stop at an intersection they were singing at.

There were few signs of security guards or police during the protest.

This article first appeared on News24, see here.