Statement on violent clampdowns at #FeesMustFall protests
3 October 2016
As organisations that work to protect and advance the right to protest, we note with concern the situation on various university campuses across the country. Tensions have risen to an all-time high with the shutdown of many universities across the country, the widespread use of force, interdicts, arrests, private security and police brutality on campuses.
In the past weeks we have been seriously concerned about widespread reports of peaceful student protests across the country being met with repression and intimidation. This unfortunately echoes the use of coercion (including the use of interdicts) to prevent and stifle any protest action, including peaceful protests, over the past year.
The Constitution protects the right to protest, peacefully and unarmed. This includes protests that are non-violent but disruptive of normal activities. Our organisations have been inundated with the need to respond to arrests of students at various institutions as well as documented cases of police and private security brutality. In many of the cases, it is clear that the arrests are arbitrary and unjustified.
The use of interdicts