UPDATE: Police fire rubber bullets at protesting UJ students
Students at the Kingsway and Soweto campuses have been demonstrating over fee increases.
JOHANNESBURG - Police this afternoon fired rubber bullets at protesting University of Johannesburg (UJ) students.
Students at the Kingsway and Soweto campuses joined nationwide demonstrations against looming fees hikes for 2017.
#Fees2017 #UJ Rubber Bullets now being used on students to remove them from Kingsway ave.outside Campus Square. ZN pic.twitter.com/pyLX7cX8EO
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) September 26, 2016
#Fees2017 #UJ some students are now on Kingsway avenue in Auckland Park. ZN pic.twitter.com/VbHxcV1C4c
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) September 26, 2016
Police used rubber bullets to disperse protesting students who had blocked off traffic on Kingsway Avenue.
They were singing and dancing near the traffic lights outside Campus Square.
Police could be seen rounding their guns and slowly moving towards the demonstrations before the sounds of rubber bullets rang out.
Students ran in various directions, seeking cover and in that commotion some students, who were not part of the protests, were caught in the crossfire.
One of the students injured says police fired randomly and she doesn't know why they were shooting.
Police are continuing to monitor the situation outside Campus Square in Auckland Park.
One student says authorities fired at random.
"We are not part of the protests, we are from Campus Square and we are just catching a taxi to go home. They just started shooting."
While another added, "That is where my problem is, you can't just shoot randomly at people, especially if you don't know whether they are part of the protest or not."
Earlier, students were warned against gathering on the university's campus because a proper notice has not been given to management.
Demonstrations have gripped the country's university following Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande's announcement that varsities may increase fees but not by more than eight percent.
Provision is also being made for poor students or the so-called missing middle.
Dozens of students have gathered at the fountain at the Kingsway campus.
In an SMS sent to students, management has sent out communication that their demonstrations have not been authorised by the university and five days' notice is needed to continue with gatherings.
#Fees2017 #UJ students have been told by management via SMS that they have not been given permission to gather.ZN pic.twitter.com/vAEGlTkmSP
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) September 26, 2016
UJ students returned to campus today after being on a break for a few days.
The group is currently being addressed by their SRC President Onwabile Lubhelwane but the media has been excluded.
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