Police deny second Braam shooting

This comes after the student fees protest turned violent on Jorissen Street. 

The students spent most of Monday circling around the student precinct before joining arms with neighbouring University of Johannesburg (UJ) students in Auckland Park. 

Law enforcement maintained a heavy presence but avoided confrontation which the group demanding the scrapping of historical debt for financially excluded students. 

It’s unclear what caused the scuffle that broke out in front of the local Pick n Pay where a student was shot in the knee. 

National police spokesperson Vish Naidoo claims none of the South African Police Service (SAPS) officers fired the shot.

“The SAPS can report that none of its members deployed in Braamfontein had fired any shots during the said protests. However, in an effort to disperse volatile crowds, only a smoke grenade was used in one incident and water cannons in others,” he says.

“This matter has not been officially reported to the SAPS, making it difficult to ascertain the nature of the student's injuries as well as the circumstances under which the injuries were sustained.” 

Investigations into the reports were underway. 

“Police are looking forward to interviewing the student as well as obtaining the medical report regarding this matter,” says Naidoo. 

This is the second shooting since the protests erupted earlier this month. 

Mthokozisi Ntumba sustained a fatal blow to the chest last week Wednesday.  

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In a stunning accusation, Wits SRC president Mpendulo Mfeka says he suspects live ammunition was used to disperse the students.   

“We ended up in Braamfontein on Ntumba Street (de Korte Street) and when we ended up in Ntumba Street, before we could even reach the end of the road no warning shots were fired, no stun grenades were thrown, we just saw a rain of rubber bullets coming towards us,” Mfeka explains.

“I don’t think the shot that went into the girl’s knee that was shot was actually a rubber bullet. I have reason to believe it was live ammunition because it actually went through the knee, it penetrated, it went from behind to the front,” he further claims.

He insists that the protests will continue until the students’ demands are met.