#uwcshutdown

[sasolidarity]

University of the Western Cape (UWC)

SUPPLIES: main entrance on Robert Sobukwe is open, students are receiving donations at the radio station offices in the Student Centre. If you cannot make it to the campus, you can contact Carol Mashigo (0817167029) who is making a trip today (26Oct). NEEDS: Request from UWC Students: urgently need food, water, cups, medication and soap. In particular: Strepsils, Bananas, Apples, Oranges, Black bags

[everydayafrica]

Yesterday afternoon police fired rubber bullets and water canons at unarmed students that had blocked a road outside UWC. According to the students I spoke to, the police told them they had 10 minutes to move or they would start firing, and they did. They used a water canon and rubber bullets. When the they wanted to get back into their campus they were told by the police they had to move in groups of 5. The obviously did not trust the police and went together. They were allowed in the gate and then teargas was fired from in front and behind them. The police jeered from the sidelines and hurled racist insults that the two women who were telling me their story refused to repeat. Still the mood on the UWC campus yesterday evening was electric. Some people looked like they were in shock, many looked exhausted but the singing and dancing created an atmosphere that was almost joyfull and that was amazing to witness. How the police could act in such a brutal way to these young people, is unfathomable to me. It seems they went a lot further than just "doing their job". South Africa is alive this morning and as the protests continue nationwide it feels like the winds of change are blowing; its source of energy comes from young people like those behind these 5 sets of eyes. Photograph by Barry Christianson @thesestreetsza #thesestreetsza #everydayafrica #everydayeverywhere #uwc #capetown #southafrica #feesmustfall #nationalshutdown #uwcshutdown (at University of the Western Cape)