[Onthebarricades] Africa: township rebellions and student unrest

[Andy]

*  CAMEROON:  Two shot as police attack taxi drivers during unrest, strike
*  ZAMBIA:  Residents fight police over allegations of collusion in robbery
*  SOUTH AFRICA:  Service delivery protests, roadblocks in Diepsloot
*  SOUTH AFRICA:  Student protests and unrest over fees in Johannesburg, 
Witwatersrand, Limpopo

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7048141.stm

'Two shot' in Cameroon taxi riot

Taxi motor-cyclists had set up barriers in the centre of the town
Police have shot dead at least two motorcycle taxi-drivers at a protest 
against police abuses in north-west Cameroon, local residents say.
Drivers had invaded the centre of the town of Bamenda to protest at the 
alleged severe beating of a colleague detained at a police checkpoint.
When police tried to clear away the demonstrators' barricades, stones were 
thrown and police replied with gunfire.
Thousands joined the protest to demand an end to extortion, witnesses say.
A pregnant woman was also wounded in the shooting and some reports say three 
taxi-drivers were killed.
A 'popular upheaval'
The protests began on Tuesday morning after the detention of a driver on 
Monday at a checkpoint where he was reportedly stopped for not having the 
right papers.
It seems the people want the police to pay for the killings

an aide to the governor of North-West Province, speaking on condition of 
anonymity
"He was thoroughly beaten until he lost consciousness and one of his eyes," 
one Bamenda resident, who asked not to be named, was quoted as saying by 
Reuters news agency.
"His colleagues went to the police station to seek his release but the 
police used tear gas to chase them away.
"They then invaded the town, mounting roadblocks and blocking the traffic. 
When the security forces came out to lift the roadblocks, they threw stones 
at them and the police fired at them in retaliation."
An aide to the governor of North-West Province, who asked not to be named, 
confirmed there had been a "popular upheaval downtown" but could not confirm 
the deaths.
"The situation is very tense here now," the aide added, requesting 
anonymity.
"It seems the people want the police to pay for the killings."
A local journalist told AFP news agency that passions among drivers were 
high because police harassment of taxi-drivers had been growing in recent 
days.
The drivers are known locally as benskinners because passengers have to 
"bend their skin" to climb on to the motorcycles.

What has happened in Bamenda is not very strange. Every now and then, when a 
citizen or citizens want to defend themselves or thier rights, they either 
end up dead, wounded or being locked up by the police who have the arms and 
most often it all stems from corruption when a citizen does not want to give 
a bribe. A similar situation as the one in Bamenda happened last weekend in 
the University Town of Soa some Kilometers from the capital city Yaounde 
where a citizen was killed by a Gendarme (paramilitary police) and this led 
to riots as there were road blocks, blocking the road from yaounde to Soa. 
This country really needs change .
Bongsha Steve, Yaounde , Cameroon
I am severely disturbed by the latest sad events in Bamenda. For several 
years now, residents of this city have been living in total fear and 
insecurity due to the upsurge in criminal practices. In Bamenda, you dare 
not go out of the house or return home after 8 pm, else you become a victim 
of armed bandits. Instead of fighting crime in the city, the forces of law 
and order prefer to spend several hours on the roadside preying on poor 
taxi-drivers/riders who are simply trying to eek a living. There is evidence 
that the police service is Cameroon has been distinquishing itself as the 
most corrupt sector. Cameroonians cannot continue to rely on the state for 
protection. They have understood this and that is why there is a 
proliferation of mob justice in major cities in Cameroon. This, too, has 
created other human security dilemmas. Yet, the rulers of this country are 
always quick to declare that Cameroon is an island of peace in turbulent 
sub-region. Since 1990, the city of Bamenda has been at the forefront of the 
fight for freedoms and for that it has paid a heavy price.
Walters Samah, Yaounde, Cameroon
Is this history repeating itself? Remember the 1984 burning of the GMI 
police station in Bamenda by youth due to unnecessary police brutality? How 
often will we go though the same thing over and over? I'm not saying that 
police shouldn't do their job if someone were operating illegally, but hey 
what's this about beating and torturing and killing of tax payers? Dear 
policeman where do you think your training, uniform, gun and salary come 
from? Sadly nothing is going to be done by the lethargic authorities...
Nji Ateghang, Edison, USA
This situation is particularly disturbing. I do not understand why there is 
so much lawlessness in Cameroon... There is no such thing as freedom of 
speech or human rights in Cameroon. I am not sure why policemen who should 
protect the citizenery would resolve to beating and ruthlessly killing 
innocent unarmed civilians. Bribery and curruption has eaten extensively 
deep into the core of Cameroonian society. Police officers are particularly 
notorious for taking bribes and would care less if a motorist has the right 
documents. Sometimes those hard core criminal officers will tell you that 
they do not eat papers, they need money. It is that simple. In a situation 
where a taxi driver or motocycle taxi rider (Bendskin) refuses to give money 
because he has the right documents, upset police officers merely detain the 
individual without cause and this person might just well rot in jail. It is 
hard to deal with curruption in Cameroon given the present government in 
place. In my opinion, a good constitution, I mean a revised constitution 
void of all pro CPDM clauses would realy set the tone for a new Cameroon 
where there will be accountability in every corner of the civil service. 
Cameroon is realy in ruins like a car running on its reserve tank and just 
waiting for a total breakdown. I have faced similar situations, though not 
as a driver but as a passenger being delayed and almost locked up because I 
dared to speak out against the bad practice.
Lucas Chibong, Bamenda Cameroon
I find this appauling. Something should be done about this. What gives an 
officer the right to shoot at unarmed civilians? The fact is that most of 
these bendskiners have no papers and the police use them as some form of 
income, becaue they claim they are not well paid. point taken, but does this 
make the innocent civlian at fault for not having papers? and if for any 
reason this bendskinner went out of line, gives them no right to lay their 
hands on him/them. Or where they acting on orders from the Boss?... And if 
this is not the case, Shoudl the Governor get involved to stop this violence 
and eventual upheavals. WE have to bare in mind, that a good number of these 
people are poor and live on close to nothing. They are wounded and incidents 
like this do not make it any better. The guilty parties should be dealt with 
accordingly. Its such a shame this country has specifically decided to move 
backwards. What has happened to human rights? or at least respect for one 
another, respect for human life and dignity?
ndip arrey, Aberdeen, Scotland

http://allafrica.com/stories/200711020211.html

Zambia: Chaisa Residents Riot

The Times of Zambia (Ndola)
2 November 2007
Posted to the web 2 November 2007
Obert Simwanza and Sylvia Mweetwa
Ndola
AT least seven people were yesterday apprehended and detained as residents 
in Lusaka's Chaisa Township fought running battles with the police whom they 
accused of aiding a group of armed robbers who shot dead a local trader and 
wounded his daughter.
The riot started after the slain trader's wife accused one of the police 
officers, who arrived on the scene shortly after the incident that he was 
part of the group that raided the house.
The bandits shot dead 36-year-old Stanley Halwindi and wounded his step 
daughter Helen Mudenda, 13.
The riot left several residents with injuries after the stones targeted at 
the police landed on them.
As early as 06:00 hours, the residents were carrying stones, tyres and other 
objects which they threw at the police post.
Other overzealous residents attempted to loot shops at the market which is 
adjacent the police post but quick action by the police thwarted the move.
By 14:30 hours, most shops at the market were still closed as some residents 
continued throwing stones at the police post while police officers 
retaliated by firing teargas canisters towards the crowd.
Emmasdale police chief, William Banda and his team worked hard to disperse 
the unruly crowds to avoid destruction of property. When the situation 
seemed to be degenerating, Lusaka Province deputy commanding officer, Chewe 
Bowa came in with another contingent of officers.
Mr Halwindi was shot dead at his Chaisa home around 01:00 hours yesterday 
while his daughter was shot on the fingers after the bandits entered the 
house through the window.
Five bandits, two armed with AK 47 rifles and three with iron bars and other 
weapons, attacked the Halwindi family. When the bandits attacked the 
Halwindi family, they demanded to be given money which Mr Halwindi said he 
did not have.
They searched the house and only found boxes of cigarettes worth K13 
million. They later dragged Mr Halwindi outside where they shot him dead in 
the presence of his family.
Police officers arrived at the scene after the robbers had left and Mr 
Halwindi's wife claimed that one of them was, in fact, among the bandits who 
raided the family.
That angered the residents who had already gathered at the house after they 
heard gun-shots. The residents later mobilised themselves and attempted to 
go and set the Chaisa police post on fire.
Police spokesperson, Bonny Kapeseo confirmed the killing of Mr Halwindi and 
said investigations had started.
He said the officer who was alleged to have been part of the bandits had 
also been interrogated but investigations revealed that he was among those 
on duty and only visited the Halwindi's home following the shooting.
Mr Kapeso however said investigations would continue and that if proved that 
the officer was among the bandits, the law would take its course and the 
officer would not be protected.
"As police we condemn such riotous behaviour because we feel it's not the 
best way of solving any problem and it is for this reason that we have 
instituted investigations to establish the truth into the brutal killing of 
Mr Halwindi," Mr Kapeso said.
He said police officers would remain in Chaisa until the situation 
normalised and appealed to the residents in the area to remain calm.
And police have a retrieved the body of a grade eight pupil who drowned in 
Chongwe river after he allegedly failed to swim.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7073629.stm

S Africans riot over bad services

Some 1.5m homes new homes have been built since 1994
Police have fired rubber bullets and stun grenades to disperse hundreds of 
residents refusing to move from their shacks near South Africa's capital.
The resident of Diepsloot near Pretoria say they would prefer better houses 
and clean water where they already live.
In recent months, the country has been hit by a number of such 
demonstrations over a lack of new homes and services.
Next month, the governing African National Congress elects a new leader with 
poor service delivery a big issue.
The residents in Diepsloot, like in several other black townships across the 
country, are deeply unhappy with their living conditions.
The BBC's Mpho Lakaje in Diepsloot said that shack dwellers launched their 
protest by barricading roads and turning away motorists.
Heavily armed police officers in trucks then moved in and as tensions 
escalated officers fired rubber bullets and stun grenades to try to disperse 
the angry crowd.
The government has urged residents to protest peacefully against forced 
removals and poor living conditions.
Some 1.5m homes new homes have been built since 1994, but an estimated 7.5m 
lack access to adequate housing, according to South Africa's Centre on 
Housing Rights and Evictions.
But with the ANC preparing to elect a new president, the situation at grass 
roots level is slowly getting out of hand, our reporter says.
Former Deputy President Jacob Zuma has accused President Thabo Mbeki of 
failing millions of poor South Africans during his rule. Both are likely to 
be contenders.


http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=15&art_id=nw20071008090920554C381869

Protest at University of Johannesburg



    October 08 2007 at 09:30AM



Hundreds of University of Johannesburg students were protesting on their 
campuses on Monday morning, Gauteng police confirmed.

Police spokesperson Constable Sefako Xaba said police had been called to the 
campus on Bunting road where about 200 students had gathered.

He said the students were "running around" but no damage had been reported.

About a hundred students from the Doornfontein campus in central 
Johannesburg were leaving to join other protesters at the old RAU campus in 
Auckland Park, said Xaba.

University of Johannesburg spokesperson Sonja Cronje confirmed the protest 
was taking place.

The protest is apparently related to proposed fee hikes at the university.

On Sunday various students bodies voiced "utter dismay" at the hikes.

"The action taken by the university management is nothing but a continuous 
trend by certain administrators of higher education in order to commodify 
education as a basic need of the South African people," said the students in 
a statement.

Fees were going up five percent for diploma students, six percent for degree 
students and eight percent across the board, with a R250 increase on ICT 
levies and services, said the university's branches of the Progressive Youth 
Alliance, the SA Students' Congress, African National Congress Youth League 
and the Student Representative Council.

Last week the University of the Witwatersrand saw protest action by students 
demanding zero percent increases for next year.

Protesting students stormed into lecture theatres, disrupted classes and 
chased lecturers. Police used rubber bullets to disperse a crowd of students 
throwing bricks and stones at motorists at Wits on Wednesday.

Two students - the Student Representative Council (SRC) president and deputy 
president - were arrested during the incident. - Sapa

http://www.sabcnews.com/south_africa/education/0,2172,157316,00.html

University protest continues despite talks
October 11, 2007, 14:30
Protests by students at the University of Johannesburg's Doornfontein and 
Bunting campuses are continuing for a fourth day. The students are 
protesting against proposed fee increases.

This is despite yesterday's meeting between students and management to end 
the protests, which sometimes turned violent. The university management has 
confirmed the increased fee of 14% for first-year students next year.

The university spokesperson, Sonia Cronje, says tuition fees need to be on 
par with other universities. "We are striving to make our university a 
world-class institution and we need finances to achieve this objective," 
says Cronje.

http://www.thetimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=583822

Rubber bullets fly at student protest
SapaPublished:Oct 10, 2007
Police fired a number of shots at students, who then dispersed

Rubber bullets have been shot at around 200 protesting University of 
Johannesburg students at the Kingsway Campus, police said today.
Spokesman Constable Sefako Xaba said the students were trying to break down 
the gates at the Kingsway Campus, as they were locked out.
"Police fired a number of shots at students, who then dispersed. There were 
no injuries and no arrests," Xaba said.
Police would continue monitoring the situation.
"Protests at the other campuses were continuing," Xaba said.
University spokeswoman Sonia Cronje said that as pupils dispersed from the 
campus, they damaged a university car.
"A brick was thrown at the car as the students ran away. They did not 
succeed in breaking down the gates," Cronje said.

http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=nw20071101115759350C298014

Mass arrests after university protest

    November 01 2007 at 12:43PM

About a 150 students were arrested overnight after a protest at the 
University of Limpopo's Turfloop campus, police said on Thursday.

Police spokesperson Inspector Malan Nchabaleng said the arrests followed a 
Wednesday night protest at the campus which turned violent.

About 1 500 students were at the protest which began at around 6.30pm.

Students threw stones at motor vehicles passing through Polokwane and 
Houtbosdorp roads, said Nchabaleng.

When police arrived at the Turfloop campus they found the gate to the main 
entrance damaged.

The window panes of an administrative block and some classrooms had also 
been broken.

The library had been damaged and the MBJ dining hall burnt and damaged 
inside.

Nchabaleng said the students then proceeded to the campus control offices 
where they broke windows and damaged about ten cars belonging to security 
guards.

A 20-year-old female student was injured during the protest action and taken 
to Mankweng hospital.

Two students, two police officers and a security guard were also taken to 
the hospital with minor injuries.

Nchabaleng said there was a visible police presence at the campus during the 
protest, but rubber bullets were not used to control the crowd.

He said police were busy with their investigations and expected to make more 
arrests later on Thursday.

Those arrested are to be charged with arson and malicious damage to 
property.

Media accounts said the protest was about unconfirmed reports that 
university management would be hiking fees next year.

Nchabaleng said the campus was quiet late on Thursday morning but police 
remained vigilant. - Sapa