According to a report via enca.com, the US State Department has expressed concern over reports that South African riot police had fired stun grenades at hundreds of students protesting tuition increases in the country.
According to the enca report, State Department spokesman John Kirby told reporters at a briefing that the agency had seen the reports and would closely monitor the situation. “Obviously our position … in terms of the right of peaceful protest remains the same,” he said.
The protests, some violent, have disrupted at least 14 of the country’s universities in the past week.
During the conflict between students and police a South African YouTube user, Shaun Swingler, captured dramatic footage off alleged police brutality.
According to a voice over in Swingler’s video: ” What started as a peaceful march became violent on Wednesday as Fees Must Fall protesters stormed the gates of parliament in an attempt to disrupt finance minister, Nhlanhla Nene’s, interim budget. Riot police retaliated with stun grenades and riot shields, pushing protesters out of the parliament compound.”
Please note, the video below is not censored nor is it for sensitive viewers.
Staff Writer
