Wits student registration suspended

11 January 2016

Johannesburg - Student registration at Wits University has been suspended for the day following protests at the institution.

Wits Student Representative Council President Nompendulo Mkatshwa spearheaded student protests at the university's Hall 29, where on site registration was meant to take place.

She told parents and students that the SRC would not permit any students to register until their demands were met by university management.

"Our intent is not to render theses institutions ungovernable... our intent is to ensure that every academically qualified student registers in the year 2016. An injury to one is an injury to all."

Mkatshwa said there was a concern among students around an extension of the 0% fee increase.

"Right now we have no certainty that we will have a 0% increment in the year 2017... we don't know when this tag team is going to start implementing structures towards free education," she said.

Mkatshwa said they were giving university management 24 hours to respond to their demands.

An assisting dean, then addressed parents and said registrations was suspended for the day, and urged students to register online. 

This protest follows last year's country wide student demonstrations against fee increments for 2016.

President Jacob Zuma then said there would be no increase in fees for the year.

This article first appeared on News24 – see here.