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From atop the Wits Art Museum (WAM) building on Jorissen Street in Braamfontein, we watched the half-hour-long spectacle begin to unfold; and while it may only have lasted that long, the memories will last a lifetime.
As Journalism Honours Students based in the Wits Vuvuzela Newsroom, the chants and screams prompted us to rush downstairs. Soon enough we were on the ground, amidst injury to our colleagues and a fatality nobody could ever have seen coming. This is our story.
At approximately 9:50 on Wednesday 10 March, burning tyres on the corner of Jorissen and Bertha streets kicked off the protest, just outside the WAM building. Peaceful protests with regard to financial exclusion were expected for this week, and that was what everybody saw as our class rushed to the scene.
On Thursday, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Blade Nzimande outlined plans for additional funding for students in higher education. This comes amid widespread outrage over the death of 35-year-old Mthokozisi Ntumba, who was killed when police opened fire on unarmed students protesting at Wits University on Wednesday. The police allegedly opened fire and Ntumba was hit as he came out of a nearby healthcare facility.
During a post-Cabinet briefing, Nzimande expressed his condolences to Ntumba’s family, friends and colleagues.“I have directed that the Wits University Council, the Wits Management and… relevant law enforcement authorities provide us with an explanation on what caused this tragedy, and to take whatever steps to ensure justice is done and appropriate responsibility is accorded.”