Police fire stun grenades as student protesters light fires near president’s office

Police fired stun grenades at students who lit fires outside South African president Jacob Zuma’s offices following a week of protests, the first signs of the post-apartheid ‘Born Free’ generation flexing its muscle. Students protesting against fee increases hurled stones at police guarding the Union Buildings ahead of an address by Zuma. A few pushed through a cordon before being pushed back by anti-riot police who also used water canons to douse the fires.

Today is Zuma’s day to shine. The children are making a plea, you should listen.

Engineering student Makungu Sithole

The protest caps a week of angry demonstrations over the cost of university education - prohibitive for many blacks - amid frustration at the inequalities that persist two decades after the end of white-minority rule. The students danced, singing: “We the students dream of free education. We are not afraid of the police, our fight will win.” One said: “He’s not taking us seriously, we’ve been here for a while." Mr Zuma was meeting student leaders and university management in private. "The meeting will discuss the current countrywide impasse between universities and students regarding the proposed annual fee increments,” his office said.

University fees are determined by universities independently of government

Jacob Zuma

zuma Africa