COSATU, SACP support student protests
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and the South African Communist Party (SACP) on Wednesday bemoaned the violence at Wits University during the 'Fees Must Fall' protests.
COSATU's General Secretary, Bheki Ntshalintshali said they do not support any form of violence.
The SACP and COSATU have welcomed the fees intervention by the Department of Higher Education, but the ANC alliance partners believe the students' struggle is being hijacked by those who want to instigate violence.
Ntshalintshali said they will join students when they march to the Chamber of Mines next month.
"On 14 October we will support and march together with the students to the Chamber of Mines and other centres of private capital to call on them to make a meaningful contribution from the wealth produced by the workers," he said.
He said they call for a tax on the rich to finance education.
"We are calling on the state to move forward and introduce this direly needed tax reform," he said.
Ntshalintshali urged the students to redirect their anger at capital, which he believes is not contributing.
"We are calling on students, who want to exercise their right to protest as enshrined in our constitution, to do so peacefully, observe the rule of law and to respect the rights of other students."