Wits students suspend hunger strike as university ignores their pleas

Wits University students, who were on hunger strike, say they have suspended their protest action after the institution ignored their pleas.

Earlier this month, students Siviwe Mafuna and Feziwe Ndwayana embarked on their more than 10-day protest.

The postgraduate students, who had been unable to register due to historical debt, were calling on the institution to allow all students to register regardless of their financial constraints.

Their protest saw calls grow among students for an end to financial exclusions, with student representatives taking to the picket lines to echo the hunger strikers’ concerns.

Tensions escalated between campus security and members of the Student Representative Council (SRC), as unregistered students embarked on a campus-wide campaign to shutdown lectures until their demands were met.

The university has, through its spokesperson, Sharona Patel, condemned the protest action as misdirected, insisting it does not have the budget to accommodate the students’ demands. It has previously told YNews that it is prioritising first year students.

Speaking with YNews, striker Feziwe Ndwayana says they will not be deterred by the university’s decision to ignore their cries.

And while the young activist focuses on regaining her strength following the physically demanding hunger strike, she insists students will resume their protest soon.