Minister calls for investigation into death at Wits
The minister of Minister of Higher Education and Training, Blade Nzimande, has called for an investigation into the death of an employee of a private security company at the University of Witwatersrand.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the minister extended his condolences the family as well as the university community at large.
"We are shocked by the conduct of the university for its failure to report such an incident, which is alleged to have occurred last week on its premises. It is clear from the report that this particular death occurred as a result of the actions of protesting students who are reported to have released a fire extinguisher that affected this employee who later died," the statement read.
A formal investigation will be launched into the matter where after the minister requested a report into how exactly how the employee died.
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"The report should also explain why the university took so long to report the matter and announce it to the university community and the public. The South African Police Service (SAPS) should also be given the space to conduct an investigation," the department said.
Nzimande also reiterated his call for "responsible protests" as well as respect for the rule of law.
"This incident therefore, painful as it is, is proof that there are people who are hell bent on holding our universities to ransom and have no regard for the vast majority of law-abiding members of the university community," the minister said in the statement.
In the statement, the department also urged law enforcement agencies to act firmly against any form of criminality.