S. Africa: Opp. declares support for student protests

By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNESBURG (AA) - The leader of South Africa’s leftist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Party, Julius Malema urged Thursday university students to continue protests until the government implemented free education.

"EFF is fully and unapologetically behind the student protests for quality education," Malema told a press conference in Johannesburg.

He appealed to students to return to picket lines and not be discouraged by rubber bullets or teargas fired on them by the police.

On Wednesday, South Africa’s Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande blamed certain “political groups” in the country for turning ongoing student protests against tuition fees into protests aiming for regime change.

Malema said his party had not been protesting at universities because students didn’t want their protest to be politicized.

He condemned the way the police handled student protests saying this prompted students to react violently.

“We have not seen anything wrong done by students. We are proud of them,’’ he said, regardless of reports that some students had burnt down university property.

Malema urged the police to exercise restraint to ensure they avoid a repeat of the Marikana "massacre" where police shot and killed 34 protesting mine workers in 2012.

Student protests began three weeks ago following an announcement that there would be an 8 percent tuition hike for the 2017 academic year. Since then, students have protested, boycotting classes and clashing with the police.

According to the government, protests have cost the country $44 million in damage to university property.

Last year, South Africa witnessed similar protests, forcing the government to avoid a tuition hike for 2016.