Voice of Joburg: Public protector and #FeesMustFall

The plight of students fighting for free tertiary education is voiced by a Wits University student.

Following the chaotic #FeesMustFall protests which turned Braamfontein upside down, student Sandla Mtotywa expressed his views on the former public protector Thuli Madonsela’s duties and how he feels about the protests for free education.

Meeting the disgruntled student on Juta Street allowed City Buzz to truly see how the youth feel about certain issues in South Africa.

Asked what he knows about the job of the public protector, Mtotywa said, “What the Public Protector was supposed to do – what I think she’s supposed to do – is investigate white corruption and the R52 million that was [allegedly] stolen by Johann Robert and his white counterparts. She doesn’t want to investigate it.

“Now, she’s saying that the new public protector will work on that, while she investigates Zuma. With her working on Zuma, Zuma won’t have time to face the students.”

The student went on to acknowledge that Madonsela, who had pledged R15 000 of her own money and raised more through donors, had donated a sizable sum of money towards the #FeesMustFall cause, but also explained that her donation would not bring them closer to their goal of free education.

“We don’t care about her R660 000 donation, we want free education. We don’t care about her donation. She donated last year and this year and next year she’s going to donate again.

“We don’t want your money. We want free education. She must take the money to Hillbrow. We don’t want her money, we want free education. We were fine throughout the year without her money.”

It is evident through recent events – the protests in Braamfontein and ongoing efforts to bring lectures to a halt – that the students do not plan to rest without their demands being met.

Read: Voice of Joburg: Adapting to city life