The Fight for Knowledge

Students arrested, Students Shot, Student debt. 

University students, and political youth league members joined forces and took the streets to protest high tuition fees, the financial exclusion of students coming from underpriviladged backgrounds and free education for all in Braamfontein, South Africa on March 10th, 2021. A rather peaceful protest took a violent turn when police started firing rubber bullets and tear gas with no warning, no clear formation and a rather violent and incompetent application of the rules of engagement. As a result of this altercation, students were dispersed in the crowds of a busy wednesday morning hustle and bustle in Braamfontein, when a young passerby, Mthokozisi Ntumba, was shot with rubber bullets at close range multiple times and killed by police. This came to show the force used by police leading to multiple pedestrians being shot in the area at the time of the protest only reaffirming the ongoing plight of South Africans against police brutality. 
University students and protesters; unimpressed, angry and in disbelief learn the news of the passing of a non-protestor caused by law enforcement. In mourning, protesters again took the streets blocking large intersections in Braamfotein, Johannesburg. The police’s response, with no surprise, was to come out in large formations to chase and shoot students in order to disperse the crowds. Undeterred, protestors were compelled to take the streets day after day following the death of Mthokozisi Ntumba. The street where he was brutally killed by police, was informally changed by students and parents from “De Beer Street” to “Mthokozisi Ntumba Street”. 
The police officer allegedly responsible for the killing of Mthokozisi Ntumba, is now facing murder charges in the South African courts. After long lasting protests and high media coverage the South African Police system as a whole came under pressure to answer questions about the order given to police officers on scene and to review police training when dealing with crowd control and rules of engagement.

Published Article:

https://ewn.co.za/2021/03/11/wits-academics-lay-police-brutality-complaint-after-student-protest-killing

https://www.news24.com/citypress/news/human-rights-watch-calls-for-sa-police-to-stop-the-use-of-rubber-bullets-after-reviewing-ntumbas-death-20210315

https://www.jacarandafm.com/news/news/student-protests-come-end-nzimande-re-allocates-r7bn/

University students, members of the African National Congress (ANC) youth league and South African Students Congress members march in protest, onto the Mandela bridge during a protest in Braamfontein, Johannesburg on March 11, 2021.

University students, members of the African National Congress (ANC) youth league and South African Students Congress members march in protest, onto the Mandela bridge during a protest in Braamfontein, Johannesburg on March 11, 2021.

University students and Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF) youth league members block an intersection during a protest in Braamfontein, Johannesburg in protest on March 11, 2021.

University students and Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF) youth league members block an intersection during a protest in Braamfontein, Johannesburg in protest on March 11, 2021.

A South African Police Service (SAPS) officer aims a shotgun towards students running for cover inside surrounding buildings during a protest in Braamfontein, Johannesburg on March 15, 2021.

A South African Police Service (SAPS) officer aims a shotgun towards students running for cover inside surrounding buildings during a protest in Braamfontein, Johannesburg on March 15, 2021.

Student protestors sing and dance at an intersection opposite the University of Johannesburg (UJ) during a protest in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, on March 15, 2021.

Student protestors sing and dance at an intersection opposite the University of Johannesburg (UJ) during a protest in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, on March 15, 2021.

University students and members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) break off the lid of a trash can to place it on the road with the aim of blocking traffic, during a protest in Braamfontein, Johannesburg on March 11, 2021.

University students and members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) break off the lid of a trash can to place it on the road with the aim of blocking traffic, during a protest in Braamfontein, Johannesburg on March 11, 2021.

South African Police officers aim and shoot rubber bullets to disperse a group of students who were blocking roads in downtown Johannesburg in Braamfontein, Johannesburg on March 10, 2021.

South African Police officers aim and shoot rubber bullets to disperse a group of students who were blocking roads in downtown Johannesburg in Braamfontein, Johannesburg on March 10, 2021.

Mthokozisi Ntumba, a passerby, was shot and killed by police during university protests in Braamfontein, Johannesburg on March 10, 2021.

Mthokozisi Ntumba, a passerby, was shot and killed by police during university protests in Braamfontein, Johannesburg on March 10, 2021.

University students, parents and Economic Freedom Fighter members sing and protest in mourning after the killing of Mthokozisi Ntumba by police on March 12, 2021.

University students, parents and Economic Freedom Fighter members sing and protest in mourning after the killing of Mthokozisi Ntumba by police on March 12, 2021.

University student gestures after lighting a fire at an intersection protesting in mourning after the killing of Mthokozisi Ntumba by police on March 12, 2021.

University student gestures after lighting a fire at an intersection protesting in mourning after the killing of Mthokozisi Ntumba by police on March 12, 2021.

University students, parents and Economic Freedom Fighter members sing and protest in mourning after the killing of Mthokozisi Ntumba by police on March 12, 2021. In his honour Students have changed the name of the street where he was shot and killed

University students, parents and Economic Freedom Fighter members sing and protest in mourning after the killing of Mthokozisi Ntumba by police on March 12, 2021. In his honour Students have changed the name of the street where he was shot and killed to Ntumba Street.

A student was shot by a suspected live round in the leg during a protest in Braamfontein, Johannesburg on March 15, 2021.

A student was shot by a suspected live round in the leg during a protest in Braamfontein, Johannesburg on March 15, 2021.

A South African Police Service (SAPS) officer attempts to grab and arrest an Economic Freedom Fighter youth league member and university student during a protest in Braamfontein, Johannesburg on March 15, 2021.

A South African Police Service (SAPS) officer attempts to grab and arrest an Economic Freedom Fighter youth league member and university student during a protest in Braamfontein, Johannesburg on March 15, 2021.

A university student gets arrested by a South African Police Service (SAPS) officer during protests in Braamfontein, Johannesburg on March 10, 2021.

A university student gets arrested by a South African Police Service (SAPS) officer during protests in Braamfontein, Johannesburg on March 10, 2021.

South African Police Service (SAPS) officers attempt to grab and arrest an Economic Freedom Fighter youth league member and university student during a protest in Braamfontein, Johannesburg on March 15, 2021.

South African Police Service (SAPS) officers attempt to grab and arrest an Economic Freedom Fighter youth league member and university student during a protest in Braamfontein, Johannesburg on March 15, 2021.

A university Student hyperventilates after being chased by the South African Police Service during protests in Braamfontein, Johannesburg on March 10, 2021.

A university Student hyperventilates after being chased by the South African Police Service during protests in Braamfontein, Johannesburg on March 10, 2021.

University students and both African National Congress and Economic Freedom Fighter youth league members argue about the politicising of the protest in Braamfontein, Johannesburg on March 10, 2021.

University students and both African National Congress and Economic Freedom Fighter youth league members argue about the politicising of the protest in Braamfontein, Johannesburg on March 10, 2021.

University student and Economic Freedom Fighter member light a fire at an intersection protesting in mourning after the killing of Mthokozisi Ntumba by police on March 12, 2021.

University student and Economic Freedom Fighter member light a fire at an intersection protesting in mourning after the killing of Mthokozisi Ntumba by police on March 12, 2021.

A university student protects a bus from a predominantly white school from being vandalized by protestors during a protest in Braamfontein, Johannesburg on March 10, 2021.

A university student protects a bus from a predominantly white school from being vandalized by protestors during a protest in Braamfontein, Johannesburg on March 10, 2021.

A group of civilians walk out of a closed public bus station after hiding from the police and protester clashes on March 10, 2020.

A group of civilians walk out of a closed public bus station after hiding from the police and protester clashes on March 10, 2020.

A protestor holds a placard in front of the Johannesburg central police station during a protest in Braamfontein, Johannesburg on March 11, 2021.

A protestor holds a placard in front of the Johannesburg central police station during a protest in Braamfontein, Johannesburg on March 11, 2021.

A woman attempts to drive through an intersection blocked by University student protestors in Braamfontein, Johannesburg on March 11, 2021

A woman attempts to drive through an intersection blocked by University student protestors in Braamfontein, Johannesburg on March 11, 2021

A car attempts to drive through an intersection blocked by University student and Economic Freedom Fighter youth league members during a protest in Braamfontein, Johannesburg on March 11, 2021.

A car attempts to drive through an intersection blocked by University student and Economic Freedom Fighter youth league members during a protest in Braamfontein, Johannesburg on March 11, 2021.

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