UPDATE: Students in Stellenbosch have asked Premier Helen Zille to leave, shouting “voetsek, you aren’t here for us! Leave!” She was quickly taken away in a mini bus with police
Reporter, Jessica, says some of the TUT protesters tried to grab her phone. “They have sticks, they’re throwing rocks and banging on cars.”
UWC students are on their way to student centre, says Paul Herman. Atmosphere is electric. Students channelling old struggle songs.
Kelly Anderson reports from Stellenbosch: Students are moving through the streets now. Protest here is peaceful, a few hundred students I would say. Four police vehicles following the crowd.
Gift of the Givers cars have started arriving at the Union Buildings. They’re bringing food and drink for the many thousands of protesters.
In the Eastern Cape: Police have said the numbers at the Walter Sisulu University protest has increased. Numbers were initially at 150 – 200. This has now increased to over 500.
Police spokesperson Colonel Sibongile Soci said: “It is alleged that about 500 Walter Sisulu University students, East London campus have now gathered in an open space in Southernwood Park, East London, possibly planning to protest in the city. They are currently being addressed by their leaders. They are now moving out of the park into St Marks Road singing towards Oxford Street. No violent actions reported and police are monitoring.”
Students in Stellenbosch have asked Zille to leave, shouting “voetsek, you aren’t here for us! Leave!” She was quickly taken away in a mini bus with police, says Kelly Anderson.
Academics union and black academics union have come with a list of demands at UCT.
An independent toxicologist tells Health24 how the use of rubber bullets on protesting students can cause considerable harm.
From Blade Nzimande claiming the nationwide fees protest is not a crisis, to comparisons to the Arab Spring, we bring you a roundup of some of the #FeesMustFall quotes this week.
In KZN: The University of KwaZulu Natal Pietermaritzburg students have now occupied the PMB CBD. Around 200 or so students are marching on the KZN Legislature for the second time in two days. Today, a more organised group plan to hand over a memorandum requesting a no fee increment and imploring efforts for free higher education in SA.
And back at the Union Buildings: Pockets of students are standing around singing and dancing on the lawns of the Union Buildings. They starting to move under the trees on the side to get out of the blistering sun. Many students are carrying umbrellas some have draped themselves in flags. Using their placards to shade themselves from sun.
And in Stellenbosch: Students are now walking with Zille voicing their anger.
Students at Stellenbosch University are shouting at Helen Zille “it’s about students not you”.
UCT academics and students continue their march on the university’s grounds.
Police are present and people have just started marching in Stellenbosch, says reporter Kelly Anderson.
News24 user Isaac Moselana tells us: 20 buses and 4 Ivecos are arriving at the Union Buildings for the march. The university sponsored the buses and 22 seaters. All we needed from management was shutting down campus so we can protest without fear of missing exams, we also needed the availability and support from all students.
President Jacob Zuma has apparently arrived at the Union Buildings.
Meanwhile, in the Eastern Cape Kaveel Singh reports: Walter Sisulu University has begun its thus far peaceful demonstration. Protestors are singing and moving towards the Ibika Location next to the campus. They are urging community members to join the protest. Police presence is high. Protestors have closed the N2 near the campus. One student says: “We have proposed disrupting high schools and primary schools to put pressure on government.”
In Durban: students have amassed on the steps of City Hall. We understand they will hand over a memorandum, to who though remains uncertain.![]()
At UCT, Tim from the Left Students Forum is going around with a bucket for donations for outsourced workers. Many large donations so far apparently. Around R20 000 in total.
Some students at the Union Buildings have asked for loudspeakers to help them calm the increasingly fired up crowd. There’s a very heavy police presence as well.
Meanwhile, thousands more protesters have begun arriving.
Students at the Union Buildings did calm down a bit but a few are getting fired up again.
With the crowd now gathering momentum and moving again through Durban, police are saying the group numbers about 3 000 people.
There’s a heavy police presence at the Union Buildings, says News24’s Genevieve Quintal.
Meanwhile in Cape Town, UCT academics are getting ready to march, reports Thulani Gqirana. They say they have been told the deputy vice chancellor will be available to receive their demands as the vice chancellor is in Pretoria. Looking at almost 1 000 students and academics, and no police presence of any kind up here.
“We’re not here to vanadalise property, all we want is answers,” a student tells eNCA.
Meanwhile in Durban: The crowd had broken into a run down West Street toward the City Hall, forcing the closure of the entire road. Their end destination is still unclear. Students have now stopped completely and sat down.
Angry students chanting “Fees must fall! Fees must fall!” at Union Buildings.
Karabo at Union Buildings: Thousands of students want to gain entry. Pushing and shoving. Others already inside
Karabo at the Union Buildings says: Chaos. People pushing to get in. Students running around the lawns
We want Blade now, they shout in answer to eNCA reporter Iman Rappetti as to why they’re trying to break through. They’re saying they’re tired of dialogue, “we’re tired of fighting”.
They’re wearing political T-shirts from various parties including the DA, EFF, ANC and others.
There’s a group of protesters trying to break through the gates at the Union Buildings. They’re pushing against what looks like a rather flimsy gate.
Breaking:
KZN students are dead set on marching down West Street, reports Jeff Wicks. They deviated from a route set by the police. All in an apparent effort to completely disrupt traffic in the city centre.
And in Pretoria, Karabo Ngoepe says he has arrived at the Union Buildings with students. And another group of students are arriving from the opposite direction.
Students on the move to the Union Buildings.
At UCT, protesters have assembled.
UWC spokesperson Luthando Tyhalibongo said there are no plans for the VC to address students today, but management will be meeting with the SRC during the course of the weekend to have discussions around the issues.
If you’re protesting, it’s possible you’ll encounter tear gas and pepper spray. Paramedics have given a quick guide to what you need to do to stay safe.
UCT students who are staying on campus say they are focusing on the workers fight against outsourcing today as workers have been behind them since they started. They are planning to support the academics as well at 11:00.
Students says no one should be working and they going to get those who are out. “No one should be working when others are fighting for them”, a student in a loud hailer said.
“We had problems initially with the police not letting injured students leave the premises (last night)” said UWC SRC president Akona Landu.
“But we eventually got everyone who was injured to Tygerberg (hospital). Lots of students were bruised and itching from being hit with rubber bullets.
“Another girl dislocated her shoulder while running, and another broke her arm after a fall.”But everyone who was injured got treated late last night”
KZN students now singing “Blade better have my money” to the tune of Rihanna’s Bitch better have my money.
Students start to march from student centre at UWC, reports Paul Herman.
More UP students waiting outside the campus to join the march. Students cheering.
UP students are now moving. Leaving campus.
Casey-Leigh Van Rooy sent this to News24: We’re currently making banners in front of the Chris Hani residence. They closed campus (in Bellville) off so the students that live off campus cannot join the march. We’re going to the residences soon to collect more students so we can go open the gates for our fellow students that are being turned away.
And Karabo Ngoepe at UP campus in Pretoria reports: We are getting ready to move. Students are jumping in the amphitheatre. The structure is vibrating. They’re singing at the top of their lungs.
And Jeff Wicks in Durban writes: A group of about 300 students now singing and waiting for more to join them. Photo below from Durban.
Students on the train from Park Station in Johannesburg to the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
In the Eastern Cape: Fort Hare University SRC leader Busisiwe Mashiqa says that students are expected to gather at around midday today to continue protest action.
Students are expecting large support from various local religious organisations. Following violence on Thursday, SRC members from Fort Hare are currently in court for the appearance of 13 students who were arrested during the protest.
In the Western Cape: Students with cars are being urged to give lifts as well to other students. The first bus and about eight cars just left, reports Thulani Gqirana.
And in KwaZulu-Natal, Jeff Wicks reports: Just caught sight of a group of no more than 100 students who arrived on foot at Curries Fountain in Durban. The photo below is of KZN students.
The bus that will take some UCT students to Stellenbosch.
Entry into UCT lower campus has been closed by campus security and traffics. Students are getting into cars to Stellenbosch, says News24’s Thulani Gqirana. There is apparently a bus on the way to pick them up as well.
The photo below is of overturned bins at the university’s lower campus.
By News 24
Asambizi Asakala 
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