Online registration at Wits 'counter-revolutionary': SRC

Johannesburg - The University of Witwatersrand behaved in a counter-revolutionary manner when it allowed students to continue to register online despite protests at the institution, it's SRC said on Tuesday.

"As the first act of #FeesMustFall in 2016 we chose to shut down registration at Wits," the student representative council (SRC) said in a statement.

"Unfortunately in the midst of the shut down we must recognize that the university, in a counter-revolutionary manner, allowed for online registration."

The student body said this action by the university allowed students, predominantly from upper class backgrounds, to complete their registration while those from disadvantaged backgrounds were still not able to.

The SRC said this was not its aim. They were merely continuing the fight for free, quality education for all.

"Our intention is not to render our institutions ungovernable. Our intention is merely to ensure that every single academically qualifying student has access to higher education and training," it said.

Students protested on the campus last week during registration for first-year students. Registration came to a halt and students were urged to register online. Vice chancellor Adam Habib lashed out at the students, saying they had put many students at a disadvantage.

Students have nine demands.

1) Free tertiary education.

2) No registration fee - regardless of outstanding fees from previous years.

3) Historic debt to be scrapped and for those students to be allowed access to their academic records.

4) Food from all dining halls be given to underprivileged and day students, including on weekends.

5) Suspensions and disciplinary action be revoked for all those who took part in the #FeesMustFall protests in 2015.

6) No members of the SA Police Service be present on campus.

7) The upfront payment of 75% required from international students within the African borders be pushed down to 20%.

8) That upfront accommodation fees be removed and students be allowed to move into residences after registration.

9) A continuation of negotiations regarding the insourcing of university workers in good faith.

This article first appeared on News24 – see here.