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'We're ready to die for money'

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Some protesters said they will continue until their demands are met. Photo by Raymond Morare
Some protesters said they will continue until their demands are met. Photo by Raymond Morare

NEHAWU members protested at the University of Pretoria in Tshwane on Tuesday, 27 February.

"No amount of intimidation will make us lose focus, and we are prepared to die for our demands," the students said.

At least five protesting sustained injuries on Monday, 26 February, after its alleged protesters reportedly started disrupting classes and police used rubber bullets and stun grenades to disperse them.

Some of the victims who got injured told Daily Sun that they are continuing with the protest until their grievances are met and would rather die for a good cause than give up.

"We were on the campus singing when all of a sudden the police came, and they shot us with rubber. I got injured on my left thigh. It's itching and very painful, and I even went to a medical facility. I'm taking medication," victim Sello Motswagole said.

The woman said she was ready to die for the increment of money.

Another victim, Stephina Monyela, said they were walking and were shocked to see police shooting at them with rubber bullets.

"We didn't fight the police. I'm feeling pain and will not stop. I will continue protesting. The management is stubborn," she said.

Chairman of NEHAWU University of Pretoria branch, said that there was no vandalism or criminal element we did," Tlou Matuba said.

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"We were behaving as a responsible union. We were shocked to be shot by police without warning. We are doing a peaceful protest," he said.

He said that their plan was to shut down the university because the management was ignoring them.

"SAPS was irresponsible to conduct themselves in such a way. Our members were not armed and were peacefully demonstrating," said the regional chairman of NEHAWU in Tshwane, Ivan Ramogale.

Some of their demands are the five days leave encashment and long service cash at 10, 15 and 20 years. They also said that student registration fees increased by 100% over the past two years.

University of Pretoria spokesperson Rikus Delport said that they successfully obtained a court interdict on Tuesday, 27 February, against striking workers, affirming the university's commitment to the safety and security of the university community.

"The interdict prohibits any unlawful interference with the university's operations, activities, and academic programmes. It further mandates a ban on any violent or unlawful conduct in pursuit of wage demands, including harassment, assault, prevention of services, interference with traffic and damage to property," said Delport.

Gauteng Police spokeswoman Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said there were no incidents reported on Tuesday, 27 February.

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