Ramaphosa on Wits education protest death: 'There was overreach' by police
"The way I saw it on television, did not warrant the type of resistance and push from our police," he said.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has responded to the death of Mthokozisi Ntumba during the Wits student protest, saying he believes the police used excessive force.
Ramaphosa was addressing the House of Traditional Leaders on his Stae of the Nation address on Thursday and said the events in Braamfontein the day before filled him with deep sadness.
"Mthokozisi Ntumba was an innocent bystander and indeed even I would say even the students. Much as they were protesting, the way I saw it on television, did not warrant the type of resistance and push from our police because it demonstrated whilst our people were protesting rather peacefully, there was overreached, it seemed like that, by the police," he said.
He noted that the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) was investigating the matter, but said anyone who found guilty of wrongdoing should be dealt with in terms of the law.
Earlier on Thursday, Police Minister Bheki Cele had visited Ntumba 's family and said he was unable to defend the police's actions on the day.
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Nthumbas was a father of two, was married, and worked for the government.
Ramaphosa sympathised with the students' plight on Thursday,.
"As a government, much as we are facing enormous challenges and difficulties, the issue of education is important and is a priority of this government," he said.
"We will not abandon our students. We will fund their education because it is their right."
Shortly before, Misnitne of Higher Education, Balde Nzimande had announced that Cabinet had given the go-ahead for the reprioritisation of funds in order to bolster the National Student Financial Scheme (NSFAS) and to allow for registration for the 2021 academic year to proceed.