Daily News

‘Student bodies must be united’

Sasco media briefing disrupted by EFF Student Command members

- ZAINUL DAWOOD zainul.dawood@inl.co.za | REPORTING CHRIS NDALISO | ADDITIONAL

AN SA STUDENTS Congress (Sasco) media briefing outside the Durban University of Technology was interrupte­d by EFF students yesterday.

Sasco KwaZulu-Natal chairperso­n Mqondisi Duma was being interviewe­d by media when three people pushed their way through and took the pages he was holding and threatened him and his colleagues.

Moments earlier, the EFF Student Command had held its briefing, detailing how their colleague Mlungisi Madonsela was shot.

The students then walked along Steve Biko Road singing Struggle songs before gathering on the pavement.

Duma and his members held a meeting across the road, which agitated the crowd. Two men who appeared to be drunk, one carrying a glass with what appeared to be liquor inside, broke up the briefing and threatened journalist­s who took pictures of them.

The police intervened and removed the culprits.

Duma said Sasco had decided to engage in mass demonstrat­ions to highlight the manner in which feefree education is being implemente­d.

“The structural paralysis of the scheme is leaving poor working-class students with no choice but to raise their voice for authoritie­s and the community at large to take our issues seriously.

“They need to give us an assurance that students will get their meals, accommodat­ion, books and transport allowance on time without an unnecessar­y struggle,” Duma said.

Speaking about Madonsela’s shooting, he said the victimisat­ion of students during demonstrat­ions should end.

“Security companies must be subjected to tight scrutiny. The prosecutio­n of the employee must be monitored closely,” he said.

Duma also called for intra-student political formations and for solidarity.

“The rise of political competitio­n in our institutio­ns makes it hard, if not impossible, for the student populace to speak in one voice on matters. We call for unity and cohesion among all non- and political formations.”

Transport, Community Safety and Liaison MEC Mxolisi Kaunda asked the police to conduct a thorough investigat­ion into Madonsela’s shooting and ensure high police visibility at all campuses in the province.

“We want to call on students to ensure that these protests are peaceful and do not result in further loss of lives and damage to property,” said Kaunda.

Police spokespers­on Colonel Thembeka Mbele said students allegedly attacked the security guards with bricks and damaged administra­tion offices. An administra­tion assistant was injured.

“It is reported that gunshots were fired directed towards the students. A 20-year-old student sustained a gunshot wound. The victim was taken to hospital for medical treatment, where he later succumbed to his injuries,” Mbele said.

Four students were arrested and charged with public violence. They will appear in the Durban Magistrate’s Court soon.

A case of murder was opened at the Berea police station.

Dr Jamila Chellan, group nursing services manager for Joint Medical Holdings, said it was not true that Madonsela was not attended to immediatel­y at City Hospital because of billing issues. She said protocol was followed, which included stabilisin­g Madonsela as soon as he arrived.

“Normally a gunshot wound would have an entry and exit point, which makes it easy to control the wound and bleeding.

“However, this was different because there was no exit wound and the patient was bleeding profusely.

“Our team attended to him within five minutes of him getting to the hospital until he passed on about 35 minutes later. His arrival and attendance was caught on camera.”

 ??  ?? AN INCONSOLAB­LE student cries after hearing of the death of a friend during a protest at the Durban University of Technology yesterday. DOCTOR NGCOBO African News Agency (ANA)
AN INCONSOLAB­LE student cries after hearing of the death of a friend during a protest at the Durban University of Technology yesterday. DOCTOR NGCOBO African News Agency (ANA)

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