Media warned that recording Rhodes protests is ‘at the discretion of the students’
Police vehicles were parked outside the main administration building of Rhodes University in Grahamstown‚ where protesting students and staff were meeting on Thursday.
Local student newspaper the Oppidan Press tweeted photos of the cop cars‚ saying: “Police have not received an order to enter the admin building‚ but students are advised to evacuate #UCKAR #Fees2017.”
>https://twitter.com/oppidanpress/status/778890402967482368?lang=enhttps://twitter.com/hashtag/uckar?f=tweets& vertical=default& src=hash& lang=en
According to campus newspaper Activate‚ student protesters occupied the building on Thursday morning.
>https://twitter.com/ActivateOnline/status/778886343715946497?lang=enStudents at the university‚ referred to by the hashtag #UCKAR (university currently known as Rhodes) on Twitter‚ are calling for a complete shutdown of its operations.
While classes are currently suspended‚ administration and support services continue. Classes are expected to resume on Monday‚ according to a notice issued to students by the university.
“To clarify‚ #UCKAR is only under an academic shutdown‚ students are calling for a full shutdown of the university #Fees2017‚” Oppidan Press tweeted.
>https://twitter.com/oppidanpress/status/778849395827679232?lang=enOn Monday‚ university management welcomed Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande’s announcement that 2017 university fees may be increased by up to 8%.
“We particularly welcome government’s commitment to assist students who come from poor and working-class families‚ and those who come from mid-level income families. This will bring much-needed relief on these categories of students. It is important that those who can afford to pay their fees do so‚” it said.
“Our council will consider the minister’s recommendations in the preparation and approval of the University budget for 2017.”
Earlier on Thursday‚ Activate shared photographs of tyres burning on the campus’s South Street.
>https://twitter.com/ActivateOnline/status/778826139808653313In a report‚ the student newspaper said that students had asked their representative council what protection they had against an interdict the university had obtained to prevent disruptive protest action on campus.
A post on the RU Fees Must Fall 2016 Facebook page has appealed to the media not to photograph scenes if they are so requested by students.
“Pictures‚ filming‚ social media or journalism during protests/disruptions are permitted‚ however this is at the discretion of the students — if they ask you to not document a specific moment then you must not do so‚” it said. – Tiso Black Star Group Digital