Amnesty International: SAPS police must use restraint
South African police must use restraint in response to students participating in nationwide protests against tuition fee increases, Amnesty International said on Wednesday.
Police used teargas, rubber bullets and stun grenades against students in Port Elizabeth and in Cape Town where hundreds of students had forced their way into the Parliamentary precinct where Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene was delivering his medium-term budget policy statement (MTBPS).
University students have been protesting against proposed fee hikes for 2016.
“We are alarmed by reports of police officers using teargas and rubber bullets against peaceful protesters. Students have a right to express their grievances peacefully and police must respect this right,” said Deprose Muchena, Amnesty International’s Director for Southern Africa.
“Law enforcement officials must comply with international standards governing the use of force in policing protests,” Muchena added.