#FeesMustFall: Wits splits – the beginning, not the end, of a chapter

By GREG NICOLSON —

Over two weeks University of Witwatersrand (Wits) students helped make history, but on Monday evening the movement that inspired protests at campuses across the country fractured, ending in division and allegations of political interference. But what they’ve started goes beyond Wits.

Since students at Wits sparked a national student movement, three things have defined its iconography. There is an image by Marco Longari of incoming Student Representative Council (SRC) president Nompendulo Mkhatshwa, marching in the rain, head bowed and fists raised. It’s one of many images of young, black, women leading the demonstrations. Then there’s the violence and resistance. The media will always feature images ofviolence, regardless of its scope and importance, but there are also visuals of resistance: students standing up to authority despite the risks. Finally, there is non-partisan politics: students from different groups, African National Congress (ANC) and Economic Freedom Fighters supporters, and others too, together on the front line, united by a common cause.

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