Student demonstrations rock South Africa

(Vatican Radio) In South Africa 29 people have been charged with public violence amid the biggest student protests to hit the country since apartheid ended in 1994.

Angry demonstrations have spread across University centers with police firing stun grenades to disperse students in Cape Town, a day after protesters stormed the parliamentary complex.

Thousands also descended on the governing party's headquarters in Johannesburg.

Ray White of “Talk Radio 702” in Johannesburg explains to Linda Bordoni that students are angry because of a proposed increase in tuition fees:
  
Listen: 

White explains the demonstrations started on Wednesday when the Finance Minister was about to deliver his mid-term budget speech.

In fact – he says – unrest had been in the air since last week when students voiced their demand for free education just as Universities announced a 10% increase in fees.

So on Wednesday hundreds of students gathered at the Parliament buildings in Cape Town and managed to enter the doors. The Police then intervened and removed them from the premises.

White says that stun grenades were used and some students were injured.

The big thing, he says, is that some 30 students were arrested and charged with treason. Those charges have now been dropped.

White says the protests are continuing and thousands are marching in Johannesburg and are gathering in front of ANC headquarters to demand the government take action, and – he says – more protests are organized for Friday in Pretoria.

President Jacob Zuma has agreed to meet with student representatives and White reports, he has vowed to address the issue.

White points out that this is a tough test for Zuma who is caught “between a rock and a hard place” but, he says, this development is really putting him to the test because he does finally seem to be taking action personally.

White says it could be an interesting “turn point” as Zuma and his government face many months of dissatisfaction and disillusionment on the part of the people for what is widely seen as a very poor performance.