Amnesty International South Africa has called on Higher Education Minister Dr Blade Nzimande to undertake an investigation into Wednesday’s shooting that led to the death of a bystander during a protest by University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) students.

The students are protesting fees and registration issues at the university and are demanding that the university allow all students, including those with historical debt, to register to study.

News reports revealed that a bystander was shot, allegedly by police, during the protests in Braamfontein.

Amnesty International South Africa executive director Shenilla Mohamed expressed shock at the death and at the police’s use of rubber bullets against protestors.

Independent Police Investigative Directorate investigators have been deployed to determine if the person killed on Wednesday morning was shot dead by police.

Mohamed urged security forces to guarantee students’ right to peaceful assembly and to refrain from using excessive force.

“Students have a right to express their grievances and the authorities must respect this right. They must also ensure the protection of all bystanders. No one should die or be injured while exercising their basic rights,” she stated.

Mohamed called on law enforcement officials to comply with international and national laws and standards governing the use of force in policing protests, and to only use force when necessary and proportionate.

The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union also condemned the use of brute force by South African Police Services members against protesting students.

“We find it abhorrent that in this day of our democracy we still have police that treat peaceful marchers like it is still the dark days of apartheid. The use of brutal force more especially against unarmed and harmless children should be condemned in the strongest possible terms. We will write to the Minister of Police to demand answers in this regard,” the union said.  

It criticised government for allowing universities to “commodify education”, making it harder for most South African youth to be educated.

It further stated that transformation of the higher education sector will happen despite arrests and tear gas.

“We will not stop nor tire until all deserving students especially from working class backgrounds have access to post schooling institutions that prepares them for the labour market and to make means to survive,” the union stated.