The killing by police of Masophe (Michael) Makhabane at the University of Durban-Westville (UDW) in Durban on May 14 has provoked outrage across South Africa. The killing has been condemned by student unions, trade unions and by the South African Communist Party.
Makhabane was killed during a protest against the administration's deregistration of more than 500 students who could not afford to pay their fees. It has now been revealed that Makhabane was struck by live ammunition, not a teargas canister as first reported.
The UDW administration's lock-out of students and staff is still in force. The university's scheduled reopening on May 29 was cancelled by the administration because the UDW Students Representative Council has refused to promise not to continue its demonstrations. The SRC has charged that the UDW fears "the forthcoming funeral arrangements for the student who lost his life during the struggle" and feels threatened by the national support UDW students have received.
Security guards on May 29 used teargas to force students out of UDW student residences. UDW management had insisted that the students return home while the university was closed. UDW SRC spokesperson Justice Mdhluli said that 500 students now had no place to sleep.
On May 28, students' representative councils from around the country met in Pretoria and called on UDW vice-chancellor Mapule Ramashala to resign. Several student organisations have threatened to lay charges of murder against Ramashala. A national protest against the expulsion of students unable to pay fees is being planned.
A mass meeting of students and staff was held on the Wits University in Johannesburg on May 24 sponsored by student organisations, staff trade unions, religious groups and left-wing organisations. Speakers included Rivaaj Ramdas from the UDW SRC, Vasco Ndebele, general secretary of the South African Students Congress and Salim Vally, a leader of the Workers Organisation for Socialist Action.
Posters for the rally declared, "Hamba Kahle [farewell] Masophe Makhabane: A martyr in the struggle against neo-liberal education policies and financial exclusions. UDW: one student killed; over 500 expelled for being poor; 37 staff retrenched; 5 academic departments closed; freedom of assembly denied."
BY NORM DIXON