SASCO condemns in the strongest terms the killing of an unarmed civilian in Braamfontein today by the South African Police Services (SAPS), during a peaceful protest by comrades of the Progressive Youth Alliance (PYA) from the University of Witwaterstrand.
The high-handed tactics by SAPS today at a peaceful protest of students which has been happening for the past 2 days has once again led to a death, This anti-African police service continues to kill peaceful protesters with impunity. This has been the case with victims such as Andries Tatane in 2009, the brutal murder of workers in marikana in 2012, to the kidnapping of students, and the brutal use of excessive force on an unarmed and peaceful student populace from 2015 to date. South Africans must not allow this sort of criminal behavior to continue unchecked, SASCO will be opening criminal charges of murder against the Commissioner of Police in Gauteng, and demands that all law enforcement personnel dispatched to the peaceful protest at Wits be withdrawn and suspended with immediate effect.
SASCO reiterates its call for all students to reject this neo-liberal ANC government and render all campuses across the country ungovernable, we cannot as students sit whilst hundreds of thousands of students across our country are denied their right to an education by being financially excluded as a result of Tito Mbowenis austerity measures which seek to ensure the marginalizing of black students from poor and working-class backgrounds.
We call on the perpetually surprised Chair of Cabinet to act decisively against the failed Minister of Higher Education and Training, Blade Ndzimande, and dismiss him immediately as he along with his incompetent administration at DHET has failed to lead the sector in the interest of students and societal transformation. We further call for the immediate sacking of the vulgar trigger happy General Bheki Cele who heads the band of thugs and hoodlums who moonlight as the South African Police service.
Issued by SASCO
Bamanye Matiwane
President
079 026 5759
Buthanani Thobela
Secretary General
073 257 5677
For enquiries
Luvuyo Barnes
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