On Friday, the #FeesMustFall movement saw its largest instance of mass action yet wit tens of thousands of protester gathering in front of the Union Buildings in Pretoria. The gathering is the culmination of more than a week’s worth of protests which have rocked university campuses across the country, as well as the parliamentary precinct in Cape Town.
Reports have come in from the scene of fires being started, protesters being sprayed with water cannons and some protesters attempting to break through the metres high barrier seperating them from the seat of South African government (those protesters are however believed to be outside the movement).
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The protesters were supposed to be addressed by South African president Jacob Zuma at midday, but he has yet to emerge.
Update: President Zuma announced a zero percent increase in fees for 2016.
For a movement which has effectively used social media from the start, it should hardly be surprising that a number of people on the scene have been tweeting some of the more dramatic images to emerge so far.
Memeburn rounds up some of the most powerful photos to have been tweeted so far:
As they pray, a human shield stands in front @LiveVIPZA #FeesMustFall #NationalShutDown #unionbuilding pic.twitter.com/hy9pvQYEQo
— Abigail Javier (@ahikeiru) October 23, 2015
#FeesMustFall Chaos descends on the #UnionBuildings lawns. Flash bangs fired by @SAPoliceService. pic.twitter.com/Ob2qzFcxRQ
— Nickolaus Bauer (@NickolausBauer) October 23, 2015
And now? Why are we burning things? #FeesMustFall #unionbuilding pic.twitter.com/OXr5MA3Xtq
— Pilane Tshego Koma (@_MsKoma) October 23, 2015
Students shout: #Zuma sikufuna la! We voted for you. #FeesMustFall pic.twitter.com/oCHOzynAUV
— Mail & Guardian (@MG_Reporter) October 23, 2015
#FeesMustFall And then this placard is shown to the police on other side of the fence pic.twitter.com/B65fkXuWCh
— Karin Labuschagne (@KarinLaB) October 23, 2015
Some very interesting posters at the start posters at the #FeesMustFall start point in Pretoria pic.twitter.com/jWwnqq6fZn
— Dianne Hawker (@diannehawker) October 23, 2015
University of Pretoria Union Building March kicks off #FeesMustFall pic.twitter.com/tztAbvCmfG
— Stephanie Findlay (@SJFindlay) October 23, 2015
At the #unionbuilding pic.twitter.com/SHosqAWghd
— #FeesMustFall 
As they pray, a human shield stands in front @LiveVIPZA #FeesMustFall #NationalShutDown #unionbuilding pic.twitter.com/hy9pvQYEQo
— Abigail Javier (@ahikeiru) October 23, 2015
Thousands of us are here at #UnionBuilding. We WON'T leave until Zuma and leaders take youth serious! #FeesMustFall pic.twitter.com/3EkA5XDXQG
— Ulrich J van Vuuren (@UlrichJvV) October 23, 2015
The more reason why #FeesMustFall #EDUCATION #FeesMustFallForAll #unionbuilding
— Poppy Mathobela (@PopMathobela) October 23, 2015
Students making a hole in the #unionbuilding fence. Police stand by quietly #FeesMustFall pic.twitter.com/NMd9hHvpdp
— Lerato Sejake (@leosejake) October 23, 2015
Fire is rising. #unionbuilding pic.twitter.com/ej50zThpgh
— H (@HlomlaDandala) October 23, 2015
These students have combined their prayers in harmony with student protest at #unionbuilding #FeesMustFall pic.twitter.com/B1Ba8hQnek
— Mzu (@Mzukisi_Qobo) October 23, 2015
#FeesMustFall ugly scenes unfolding outside the #UnionBuilding, portable toilets set on fire @City_Press pic.twitter.com/1Ej60nmeY7
— Poloko Tau (@PolokoTau) October 23, 2015
Thousands of SA students march to meet President Zuma over #FeesMustFall https://t.co/Tt6xhd9Bj3 #UnionBuilding pic.twitter.com/99BmTLHBTW
— BBC Africa (@BBCAfrica) October 23, 2015
Burning flames and black smoke on #unionbuilding grounds, helicopter flies overhead, student protestors cheer & sing pic.twitter.com/9SXgDHPesm
— Stephanie Findlay (@SJFindlay) October 23, 2015
#Kathrada showing solidarity with students for equal, accessible and affordable education. #unionbuilding pic.twitter.com/rVSbTuab4r
— Kathrada Foundation (@KathradaFound) October 23, 2015
ANC trying to boycott the march to the #unionbuilding Students tell them to Move. This is our fight. #FeesMusFall pic.twitter.com/AAU7zrfwv3
— Michael Cost (@MickyCost) October 23, 2015
At the #unionbuilding standing for a brighter SA #FeeaMustFall @TheFactory_SA pic.twitter.com/VSgeNpymVI
— Xavier Hendricks (@XavierH_SA) October 23, 2015
A truly South African scene: students march through Pretoria under purple canopy of Jacaranda trees #unionbuilding pic.twitter.com/C1lHIq7ozo
— Stephanie Findlay (@SJFindlay) October 23, 2015
As we wait , some students help each other to clean up "My mother raised me well thats why" he said #FeesMustFall pic.twitter.com/McNu5ZprTl
— RORA Craft% (@rollution01) October 23, 2015
#FeesMustFall Camouflaged @SAPoliceService surveying scene at #UnionBuildings with binoculars. Choppers overhead. pic.twitter.com/3Ct00LIZBw
— Nickolaus Bauer (@NickolausBauer) October 23, 2015
#FeesMustFall PHOTO: Police form a human wall outside where the fence was breached. Note the sign on the floor… pic.twitter.com/cLiq0eTJaj
— Alex Eliseev (@alexeliseev) October 23, 2015
Image: Poppy Mathobela via Twitter.
