Students lose court bid
Wits students on Wednesday evening lost a court bid seeking to interdict the university from running a poll on the possible resumption of academic activities.
The poll was proposed in response to the violent protests for free higher education, that erupted at Wits and then spilled over to various universities across South Africa.
The Fees Must Fall marches saw students arrested, journalists assaulted and extensive damage to property.
Students filed an application against the proposed poll but the urgent interdict was denied, meaning that the poll will continue.
Wits University earlier this week indicated that it would send out an SMS to students and staff to determine the way forward.
Yesterday students also marched to the Chamber of Mines in the Johannesburg CBD to hand over a memorandum urging mines to support the bid for free higher education.
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Meanwhile, questions are now being asked about the conduct of private security at the University of Johannesburg where violent protests led to private security allegedly attacking students and media during the Fees Must Fall protests yesterday.
Private security on the Doornkloof and Kingsway campuses have come under fire for their heavy-handed approach.
Students have told media about beatings as well as physical threats by private security guards.
Members of the media were also consistently in the firing line with two photographers beaten. Pepper spray was also used to try and control members of the media.
The University of Johannesburg is set to provide more clarity on the conduct of the private security companies on Thursday.