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Faizel Patel – 15/03/2021
Stellenbosch University Social Justice Chair Professor Thuli Madonsela says there may be rogue elements within the police force that were responsible for the death of 35-year-old Mthokozisi Ntumba.
Ntumba an innocent bystander was shot and killed after leaving his doctor’s offices in Braamfontein during protests by Wits students last week.
Four police officers have been arrested in connection with his death.
Speaking to Radio Islam, Madonsela says the police’s actions were also prevalent during the “fees must fall” protests.
“My experience when we had ‘fees must fall’ in Gauteng, there were rogue elements in the police force that had a hidden agenda. I wouldn’t be surprised if the killing of Mthokozisi Ntumba would be one of those. How does anybody just get out of a police car mindlessly shoot children that are standing, not running, not destroying anything. How do you explain that?”
Madonsela says Ntumba’s death was a sad day for South Africa.
She says Ntumba’s death could be described as the Hector Pieterson moment of democratic South Africa.
“It could be the Hector Pieterson moment, if we treat it like that. For me what that would mean is that we all agree that never again should we respond with too much force when our children go on strike for legitimate reasons.”
Madonsela says she and University of Stellenbosch’s Student Representative Council are challenging alumni and corporate companies to contribute to the cause of scrapping student debt as part of the Action4Inclusion initiative.
She says we can all make a difference.
“I saw for example the role you played as Radio Islam when there was a student who couldn’t graduate and she was owing almost half a million and within hours that money was raised and for me that’s Ubuntu.”
Madonsela while students may have grievances and are angry, they have no right to destroy property adding that they will lose support if they act violently.
Listen to the interview with Professor Thuli Madonsela
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