Police accompanied fees protesters who marched this afternoon Friday 21 October 2016 from Rhodes University to the Grahamstown Police Station, where they delivered a memorandum alleging police brutality.
Police accompanied fees protesters who marched this afternoon Friday 21 October 2016 from Rhodes University to the Grahamstown Police Station, where they delivered a memorandum alleging police brutality.
Grahamstown Police spokesperson Captain Mali Govender confirmed that the police received the memorandum from Rhodes University student Lukhanyo Ningiza, a FeesMustFall leader.
Before handing over the memorandum, Ningiza read out the memorandum which alleged severe attacks on students on the university campus on Monday 17 October resulting in physical injury and emotional trauma.
The students who had suffered the trauma were, however, concerned about their confidentiality and therefore demanded that the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) investigate the events of that night.
The interviews should not be conducted in the police station, Ningiza said, reading out the memorandum, and should be conducted in the presence of the students' lawyer, Basil Williams.
Students sang struggle songs during the march which proceeded peacefully through the town centre, accompanied in front and behind by vehicles of the South African Police Service.
One of the marchers carried a placard displaying the name of Tshwane University of Technology student leader Lesego Benjamin Phehla.
According to the Mzansi Live website (http://mzansilive.co.za/) police are investigating a case of culpable homicide after Phehla was struck by a vehicle during a protest outside one of the TUT campuses, around 1.30pm Thursday 20 October.
The Presidency today issued a statement saying that President Jacob Zuma was deeply saddened by Phehla's death and extended condolences to his family.
"President Zuma has further emphasised that the government supports the student call for access to education, for the poor," the statement said.
Imploring students to return to class, Zuma was quoted saying, "We want to work with students, parents and all stakeholders to find solutions."
Zuma said all stakeholders including students would be engaged in a ministerial task team established to seek solutions.
""Importantly, students should not lose the 2016 academic year," Zuma said in the statement.
Grahamstown activist
With the marchers was Grahamstown activist and Unemployed People's Movement member Ayanda Kota, who recently confirmed his success in his four-year fight for compensation from SAPS for an alleged assault at the Grahamstown Police Station.
According to a statement this week from the UPM, Minister of Police Nathi Nhleko paid Kota R120 000 in an out-of-court settlement with respect to damages claimed by Kota following the incident.
In an interview earlier this week, Kota would not confirm rumours that he had offered to pay bail for students arrested in the fees protests.
However, he expressed solidarity with the student protesters.
R5 000 bail for Law student
Earlier today, Rhodes University student Luzuko Brian Naki was granted bail of R5000 bail at the magistrate's court in Grahamstown.
Magistrate Lindelwa Figlan released the second-year Law student with bail conditions that include that he should report to the Grahamstown Police Station every second day.
"You will have return to the court on 30 November. If you fail to come on that date then I issue a warrant of arrest and you will be arrested. You will start reporting at the police station tomorrow," said Figlan.
Several students who went to the court in support of Naki.
The students said Naki hadn't do anything wrong and that he was arrested because the police knew he was out on bail.
Naki was arrested on Tuesday 18 October for allegedly violating his bail conditions, which state that he should not participate in any unlawful activities.
Naki was in the vicinity when a group of students entered the University's administration building, and the police arrested him.
Naki said his reason for being in the area was that he was among a delegation of four with whom vice chancellor Dr Sizwe Mabizela had requested to meet.
Mabizela later that day participated in a march to the Grahamstown Police Station where he and students met with senior police officials.
On 30 November he will appear alongside other students arrested since the start of the fees protests.
They will appear in Court A where the magistrate is Ntsoki Moni. Naki's lawyer Basil Williams, yesterday asked for Naki's matter to be removed from Court A, which is under Moni.
Williams said his client, Luzuko "Brian" Naki, was not happy with the way Moni had handled his case.
He said Naki didn't like the fact that Moni told him [Naki] that if he could afford to hire a private attorney he could afford to pay bail. He said Naki felt that he wouldn't get a fair trial in Moni's court.
anele@grocotts.co.za
