ANC Women's League condemns shooting of protesting S. African students

The African National Congress Women's League (ANCWL) on Friday added its voice to a chorus of condemnation against police brutality on "Fees Must Fall" protesters at universities across the country.

This came after Shaeera Kalla, a former student leader at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, was shot several times by police with rubber bullets on Thursday.

Several other students were also shot and wounded during nationwide protests against tuition fee hikes.

"As the ANCWL we find the use of rubber bullets and teargas on an unarmed group of students appalling. We believe the role of the law enforcement officers is restoring order in universities," ANCWL Secretary-General Meokgo Matuba said.

She said the ANCWL respects the rights of students to peacefully protest for their demands.

"However, violence and destruction of university property by the students cannot be justified," Matuba said, calling on students to refrain from destroying university property.

"We calls on all stakeholders, students, government and academic institutions to work together to speedily find solutions and resolve the issues," Matuba said.

South African universities have been hit by a new wave of student protests which erupted late last month after Minister of Higher Education and Training Blade Nzimande allowed universities to raise fees, provided that it does not exceed 8 percent. Enditem