Wits to march over ongoing violence

2012-08-23 12:51

Johannesburg - Wits University on Thursday said it would hold a march later in the day to express its deep concern at ongoing violence.

"A mass gathering will take place on the steps of the Wits Great Hall at noon on what has been declared a national day of mourning, followed by a procession to Jan Smuts Avenue," the university said in a statement.

All students, staff, members of the Wits community and media were invited to attend.

The national day of mourning was declared to commemorate the lives of 34 miners who were shot dead at Lonmin's platinum mine in Marikana last Thursday.

Wits said it was concerned about the continuing expression of violence that characterised social and institutional interactions in South Africa.

This included the Marikana events, the recent Pomeroy killings and the stoning to death of three children in Limpopo.

"This ongoing violence is a part of our national and collective shame and we should take this time to seriously reflect on the state of our society, and to disturb the conscience of our community," said Wits spokesperson Professor Yunus Ballim.

"We need to examine the underlying socio-economic and political causes of this crisis, including the ongoing contributory factors like poverty, crime, corruption, racism, gender violence and inequality."

- SAPA