#NationalShutDown worldwide Twitter trend

A Swazi student who is studying at the University of the Witwatersrand, Bonisile Ntuli, said she was indoors during the protests as she had been warned by fellow students that there was a circulating email informing them that there would be a clash with police.

Shortly afterwards police fired stun grenades at the demonstrators to disperse them.

When Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande tried to address the students, he was booed and drowned out. Their overarching message he said is that “there should be nothing about them without them”.

A few of the interviewed Swazi students informed this publication that they were ordered to stay indoors while others took part in the protests.

Meanwhile, UCT Vice Chancellor Max Price says he’ll put proposals to the university council next week to ensure students in need do not face any fee increases.

Mbali urged the government to come to the table to find solutions and to start implementing measures to contain high costs of education. The committee reported back more than two years ago.

Students from different universities across the country have brought institutions to a standstill by demonstrating against rising tuition fees. Mr Nene noted ahead of his speech that funding for students through the NSFAS had trebled over a short period.

The statement attributes this increase to the NSFAS, the cost of building two universities and an increase in this year’s public sector wage agreement.