title: bad news for republicans as court intervenes in their voter intimidation scheme
text: more police move to disperse students protesting outside the parliament in cape town south africa october   photo by reuters 
  clashes have erupted outside south africas parliament as police struggled to disperse students protesting against financial hardships and the deteriorating economic situation in the country 
  the protest on wednesday outside the national assembly building in cape town saw a direct confrontation between the police and about  students 
  the protesting students were mainly angry at the increased tuition fees in the universities they also voiced anger at south africas grim economic prospects 
  other cities across the country have seen similar protests over the past weeks some of them violent officials in cape town johannesburg and elsewhere have even ordered the temporary closure of the universities to calm down the situation an injured student is helped by classmates during a protest outside the parliament in cape town south africa october   photo by reuters 
  the clashes on wednesday came as finance minister pravin gordhan delivered a speech in the parliament to warn about south africas weakening economy although he vowed that the government would do anything to help students in the country cope with financial problems 
  we will do everything that is possible to regain normality on our campuses we want the violence to stop gordhan said adding many students face financial hardships that undermine their ability to succeed academically 
  gordhan said south africas  growth forecast stood at  percent he also stated that an extra  billion rand  billion would be earmarked for funding university students 
  he warned that a growing sense of political uncertainty in south africa could seriously harm the countrys financial position in the world 
  much more disturbing and more difficult is the rise in our own communities of anger and discontent spilling over into violence and destructive protests gordhan said adding it is not just that our economic outlook is distressed and there is the possibility of downgrades in credit ratings 
  gordhans promise of spending cuts and fighting corruption has triggered a new political standoff in south africa he has been ordered to appear in court on november  to face charges of fraud in what many see as a direct clash between him and people loyal to president jacob zuma the minister enjoys a good deal of public support over his record in office 
  some senior members of zumas african national congress anc have dismissed charges against gordhan as politically motivated calling on zuma and the ancs senior figures to resign to save the party from the current political turmoil loading