Wits Tech: Asmal steps in
2003-08-14 21:28
Johannesburg - A special team sent by Education Minister Kader Asmal visited students at the Technikon Witwatersrand on Thursday, while around 360 of the technikon's students were shunted between Johannesburg courts.
The team arrived on the campus a day after the 360 students were arrested on Thursday in connection with an illegal street protest they held on Wednesday.
The students are to appear in the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court on Friday. Their scheduled Jeppe magistrate's court appearance did not take place, and they were transferred to the Johannesburg magistrate's court.
Tension was high at the larger court, where parents of the arrested students had gathered.
The 360 were arrested in Jorissen Street, central Johannesburg, on Wednesday, protesting a change in hostel visiting regulations which they claimed the institution's management made without consultation. The technikon has denied this.
On Friday the students will appear before a magistrate facing charges under the Gatherings Act for holding an illegal protest, intimidation and trespassing, a senior prosecutor said outside the Johannesburg magistrate's court.
Technikon Witwatersrand spokesperson Mary Willemse said on Thursday it the technikon had decided to prohibit visitors from students' rooms after a number of criminal incidents occurring at residences.
Willemse said that over the past three years there had been two cases of rape, three of assault and one of sexual harassment. There was also an incident where a student apparently jumped out of a window, while other people were in the room with him.
"There have been none this year so far. The reason for the rule is that the technikon needs to protect its students," she said.
About 1 800 students living at the technikon's Doornfontein and Auckland Park campuses in Johannesburg were given a 18:00 deadline on Wednesday to vacate their rooms after the technikon closed down until further notice.
On Wednesday night management allowed students who were not able to find accommodation for the night to stay at the residences on condition they signed an agreement that they would abide by the rules and regulations of the residences. Ninety-six students took up the offer.
On Thursday Asmal's delegation, headed by the education department's chief director of higher education, Dr Molapo Qhobela, met students and technikon management.
On Wednesday students protesting at the technikon's Auckland Park campus tipped dustbins into the road and burnt tyres to block traffic, while students at Doornfontein barricaded entrances.
Most of those apprehended were arrested in Jorissen Street while marching through the city from Auckland Park to join their Doornfontein classmates. The students were arrested after police, some in riot control gear, threw a stun grenade.
Reporters saw students being manhandled and one was kicked by a policeman while on the ground.
The African National Congress Youth League said it was dismayed by the "excessive" use of force by the police.
Meanwhile, the Congress of SA Trade Unions spokesman, Patrick Craven on Thursday refuted reports that expelled students with nowhere to go had been invited to stay at Cosatu House. He said he knew of no such invitation and also knew of no students who had spent Wednesday night at the trade union federation's headquarters.
Craven also dismissed reports that Cosatu had appointed legal representatives for the students.
- SAPA