#FeesMustFall: Today was important. Here’s why

It’s been another busy day for the #FeesMustFall protest. From the Wits poll results to lecturers demonstrating how to carry out a peaceful protest to the security cluster saying that police are not getting enough credit for not using live ammunition. We round up five of the most interesting developments that occured today.

1. Wits Poll results

#FeesMustFall protesters at the University of the Witwatersrand were vastly outvoted during a poll on whether or not to keep the institution closed. The majority of Wits students (77%, or 16 739) voted in favour of proceeding with their regular programme, with only 4991 (23%) preferring that the university remain closed.

2. Academics join protest

Wits academics joined the protest today. They were calling for free education and the removal of private security and the police from campus.

3. Calls for Zuma to intervene

The University of Johannesburg’s vice-chancellor Ihron Rensburg called on President Jacob Zuma to intervene in the raging Fees Must Fall campaign.
Read the full article here

4. Security cluster meets

Meanwhile, Zuma met with security cluster ministers to find ways to end the violence at universities that has seen buildings torched. The cluster didn't outline a plan but emphasised that the police have acted with restraint thus far. State Security Minister David Mahlobo also said that the police were not getting any credit for not using live ammunition.

5. Journalist arrested

News24 journalist Kaveel Singh was arrested and charged with trespassing for covering student protests at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Westville campus. Singh was detained by private security and police after his cellphone was confiscated and a video he took with his cellphone was deleted. Singh was eventually released without charge.