Elevate your local knowledge

Sign up for the iNFOnews newsletter today!

Select Region

Selecting your primary region ensures you get the stories that matter to you first.

South African police use stun grenades on student protesters

South African police use stun grenades on student protesters | iNFOnews.ca
Protesting students climb on top of an armored police truck as they protest outside the parliament building in Cape Town, South Africa, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016. South African police have used stun grenades to disperse hundreds of protesters who had marched to the parliament building to call for free university education, where the finance minister was giving a budget speech. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)

CAPE TOWN, South Africa – South African police have used stun grenades to disperse student protesters outside parliament, where the finance minister was giving a budget speech.

Hundreds of protesters had marched to the parliament building in Cape Town on Wednesday to call for free university education. They burned what they said was a mock cardboard coffin for the education minister to show dissatisfaction with the government’s response to their demands.

Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan announced some additional funding for higher education in his speech. He also said: “We want the violence to stop.”

Sometimes violent protests for free education have hit many South African campuses since last month, when the government recommended that universities increase 2017 fees by no more than 8 per cent. It also promised to cover fee increases for poor students.

___

This version corrects to say the mock coffin was of cardboard.

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

Create a free account

The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.

Related Articles