South African students score tuition fee protest victory
Source: The Guardian
South Africas student movement has scored a big victory after plans to raise university fees were scrapped following weeks of nationwide protests that culminated in a mass gathering outside the main government offices.
The largest demonstration took place at the Union Buildings, South Africas seat of government in Pretoria. More than 10,000 people gathered on Friday to demand that proposed fee rises be scrapped, and called for the president, Jacob Zuma, to personally address their concerns.
It was the largest single student protest since the 1976 Soweto uprising an iconic moment in the fight against South Africas apartheid regime and participants represented a broad cross-section of the countrys racial groups and political parties.
Although the presidential podium was erected twice, Zuma never appeared, choosing instead to make the announcement in the press room inside the main building.
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Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/23/south-african-students-protest-pretoria-tuition-fees-rise
Simon Allison in Pretoria
Friday 23 October 2015 18.11 BST