On Wednesday, a group of students at Wits University tried organised a silent march from the science stadium to the Great Hall under the banner of “Take back our Wits.â€
Students disrupting the #KeepWitsOpen pic.twitter.com/brAkwcDmhO
— Rumana Akoob (@RumanaAkoob) October 5, 2016
The students said they are in solidarity with Fees Must Fall but they want the academic programme to resume.
The protest trended on Twitter under the hashtag #TakeBackWits and peeps wasted no time in calling the students out for their privilege, among other things.
Here are some of our favourite tweets:
#TakeBackWits versus #TakeBackTheLand?
When they done with #TakeWitsBack they must #BringBackOurLand.
— Babes We’toitoi (@MrNotwane) October 5, 2016
See all those people who are taking part in #TakeBackWits.
You won’t find them when the #TakeBackTheLand movement starts
— Simmi Areff (@simmiareff) October 5, 2016
Hey, #TakeBackWits, prove to us you got some coordination.
White people claiming to protest silently to display “peace” but we all know it’s because rhythm dololo 👀
— Naadira Alli (@naadi22) October 5, 2016
Some questioned the struggle credentials of #TakeBackWits protesters 🙊
Ofcoz #TakeWitsBack is a silent protest. They don’t have struggle songs coz they’ve never struggled.
— Kholofelo (@Kholo_KN) October 5, 2016
Starter pack. #TakeWitsBack pic.twitter.com/ApK7hNogjI
— 👠(@Mefied) October 5, 2016
Surely you can get a refund on international flights if you have travel insurance. No? In that case, #TakeBackWits.
Do you want to #TakeWitsBack because your hoilday plans are non-refundable? Must be nice💅💅
— one sided coin (@chyoma_EG) October 5, 2016
Come on guys, we’ve BEEN renaming streets in the CBD. We only just got used to saying Miriam Makeba Street instead of Bezuidenhout Street.
#TakeBackWits South Africa is not ready for a White Hero. We are still renaming CBD Streets
— Tselahale L Serongwa (@twin_engine) October 5, 2016
White privilege is not contagious, people. But perhaps it’s rubbed off on some folks?
To my black sisters and brothers who are for #TakeWitsBack please remember. White privilege is not contagious.
— The Ed. Philosopher (@Abel_Nkosinathy) October 5, 2016
In the spirit of reworking songs for Fees Must Fall (Like Babes Wodumo’s “Wololo†), Comrade Bae did a young remix of Beyonce’s track “Hold Up.â€
On #TakeWitsBack; #HoldUp they don’t love u like #FeesMustFall loves you! It’s not the right to study, it’s the right to pay u fighting for!
— Mbuyiseni Ndlozi (@MbuyiseniNdlozi) October 5, 2016
And while some of us are struggling to keep our eyebrows on fleek, others have eternal protection from police on fleek.
Eternal protection on fleek lol #TakeWitsBack pic.twitter.com/KhKzkfo7G3
— I am An African (@Uncle_JayB) October 5, 2016
Careful kids, check your privilege before you wreck your privilege.