Wits University Faces Violent GBV Protests as Students Demand Action

Wits University Faces Violent GBV Protests as Students Demand Action

Johannesburg’s University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) became a flashpoint for anger and frustration on Thursday, when gender-based violence (GBV) protests escalated into a tense confrontation at a busy city intersection. The protests were sparked by allegations that a student representative council (SRC) member had assaulted a fellow student over the weekend.

@rhullan I wish I could get out of that Taxi and join them so bad💜 #fyp #endgbv #witsprotest #nmu ♬ original sound – rhu

From Demonstration to Chaos

What began as peaceful protests on Tuesday escalated on Thursday when students gathered at the Yale and Empire roads intersection outside the main campus. Eyewitness videos show a motorist allegedly firing live rounds into the air during a confrontation with demonstrators, forcing students to flee. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries; two students sustained minor scrapes and cuts.

University spokesperson Shirona Patel confirmed that police and campus security are reviewing footage from multiple sources to identify the driver. Bullet shells have reportedly been collected as part of the ongoing investigation.

University Responds

Wits had already received a memorandum of demands from students, calling for urgent action on GBV incidents and greater accountability from university leadership. The university confirmed that the accused student had been placed on precautionary suspension while investigations are ongoing.

Patel emphasized that the Gender Equity Office (GEO), established in 2013, handles all matters related to gender-based harm with a complainant-centred approach. The office employs trained staff, including legal advisors and social workers, to manage cases confidentially and professionally.

“Anonymous reports are accepted, but they limit the ability to investigate fully and take disciplinary action,” Patel explained, highlighting the balance between confidentiality and due process.

The university also reiterated that SRC members are vetted before elections and can be removed if found guilty of misconduct, including GBV.

@qhawemazaleni 💜💜💜 #WomenShutdown #NationalShutdown @Miss South Africa ♬ original sound – Qhawe Mazaleni

Key Points of Contention

Students demanded public access to CCTV footage of incidents and the opening of a criminal case. Wits firmly rejected the request for public release, citing the risk of retraumatizing victims and the necessity of using footage as confidential evidence.

“The GEO and university use surveillance to support complaints, and it is shared with SAPS where necessary to protect the complainant,” Patel said.

A National Movement Gains Momentum

The protests at Wits occur amid a growing national movement against GBV. The Women for Change National Shutdown, scheduled for 21 November, calls on women and LGBTQIA+ individuals to abstain from economic activity and lie on the ground for 15 minutes to raise awareness of GBV.

The movement has gathered over one million petition signatures demanding that GBV be declared a national disaster. Miss SA Qhawekazi Mazaleni urged citizens to join, warning against normalizing a crisis that has seen a 33.3% increase in cases since last year.

Political Controversy

ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has faced criticism for comments perceived as dismissive of the shutdown, suggesting the issue should be addressed internally rather than in the international spotlight of the upcoming G20 summit.

“Long after those leaders have left, we must join the movement against GBV,” Mbalula said. Critics argue that the government’s ongoing inaction undermines his call for collective responsibility.

For Wits students, the protests highlight deep frustration with institutional responses to GBV. For South Africa, the unrest underscores the urgency of addressing gender-based violence nationally, particularly as the country prepares for the G20 summit and heightened international attention.

The Wits protests, social media outcry, and planned national shutdown collectively signal that students and citizens alike are demanding meaningful, immediate action and that silence or delay is no longer acceptable.

{Source: The Citizen}

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