This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-34603144
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| South African university students charged with violence | South African university students charged with violence |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Twenty-nine South Africans have been charged with public violence in the biggest student protest to hit the country since apartheid ended in 1994. | Twenty-nine South Africans have been charged with public violence in the biggest student protest to hit the country since apartheid ended in 1994. |
| Police again fired stun grenades to disperse students in Cape Town, a day after protesters stormed the parliamentary complex. | Police again fired stun grenades to disperse students in Cape Town, a day after protesters stormed the parliamentary complex. |
| Thousands have also descended on the governing party's headquarters in the main city, Johannesburg. | Thousands have also descended on the governing party's headquarters in the main city, Johannesburg. |
| The students are angry with a proposed increase in tuition fees. | The students are angry with a proposed increase in tuition fees. |
| Africa Live: BBC news updates | Africa Live: BBC news updates |
| The demonstrations began last week at Johannesburg's prestigious University of the Witwatersrand, and have since spread across the country, forcing the closure of some of South Africa's top universities. | The demonstrations began last week at Johannesburg's prestigious University of the Witwatersrand, and have since spread across the country, forcing the closure of some of South Africa's top universities. |
| At the scene: Pumza Fihlani, BBC News, Johannesburg | |
| On at least two occasions, police foiled attempts by the protesters to reach the headquarters of the governing African National Congress (ANC), pushing them back to their campuses. But the students regrouped and finally reached the building, named Luthuli House after South Africa's first Nobel Peace laureate Albert Luthuli. | |
| The students are singing and chanting anti-apartheid songs, invoking memories of the decades-long campaign which led to the overthrow of the apartheid regime in 1994. | |
| Traffic is gridlocked in the area. The ANC has pulled out its election truck and seem to be wiring a loud speaker. It is unclear clear at this stage who will be addressing the crowd. | |
| President Jacob Zuma said he would meet student leaders on Friday to discuss their grievances. | President Jacob Zuma said he would meet student leaders on Friday to discuss their grievances. |
| The mainly black students say they cannot afford fee increases and have rejected a government offer to cap increases at 6%, down from the 10% to 12% proposed by the management of universities. | The mainly black students say they cannot afford fee increases and have rejected a government offer to cap increases at 6%, down from the 10% to 12% proposed by the management of universities. |
| The 29 people who appeared in court in Cape Town were not asked to plead. | The 29 people who appeared in court in Cape Town were not asked to plead. |
| The accused have been released from police custody, and the case postponed to February. | The accused have been released from police custody, and the case postponed to February. |
| Those charged include the 63-year-old parent of a student at the University of Cape Town, the privately owned News24 site reports. | Those charged include the 63-year-old parent of a student at the University of Cape Town, the privately owned News24 site reports. |
| 'Stalemate' | 'Stalemate' |
| It published what was purportedly an official document, showing "high treason" was among the alleged offences for which he had been detained. However, the charge was not mentioned in court. | It published what was purportedly an official document, showing "high treason" was among the alleged offences for which he had been detained. However, the charge was not mentioned in court. |
| Correspondents say the protests show growing disillusionment with the ANC, which took power after minority rule ended in 1994, over high levels of poverty, unemployment and corruption in government. | |
| Many black students say they come from poor families, and fee increases will rob them of the opportunity to continue studying. | Many black students say they come from poor families, and fee increases will rob them of the opportunity to continue studying. |
| Financially better-off white students have joined the protest, mainly to show solidarity with the black students. | Financially better-off white students have joined the protest, mainly to show solidarity with the black students. |
| Mr Zuma's office said he would meet student leaders and university officials "to discuss the stalemate with regards to university fee increases". | Mr Zuma's office said he would meet student leaders and university officials "to discuss the stalemate with regards to university fee increases". |
| "It is important that we work together to find solutions. Nobody disagrees with the message that students from poor households are facing financial difficulties and possible exclusion," he said in a statement. | "It is important that we work together to find solutions. Nobody disagrees with the message that students from poor households are facing financial difficulties and possible exclusion," he said in a statement. |
| Correspondents say Mr Zuma's intervention shows how seriously he is taking the protests. | Correspondents say Mr Zuma's intervention shows how seriously he is taking the protests. |
| Students are also demanding the resignation of Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande, who said on Monday that the protests were not a national crisis. | Students are also demanding the resignation of Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande, who said on Monday that the protests were not a national crisis. |