Top South African universities close after violent protests

South African universities will be allowed to increase their tuition fees by up to 8 per cent in 2017, but students from low- and middle-income families will not have to foot the bill.

Scores of students were injured when the police shot a stun grenade in a bid to disperse a defiant group of protesters who were blocking the Station Street entrance on Jorissen Street.

Protesting Wits students on Wednesday held a mass meeting, which led to them wanting to march to the nearby Rosebank College.

A man walks with his bike near a crossing at the University of Cape Town, UCT, campus were students removed a statue of British colonialist Cecil John Rhodes in recent years, and gathered during protest in the past week demanding free education in Cape Town, South Africa, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016.

“Grenades launched as the crowds run away #Wits #Fees2017‚” tweeted journalism student Lindokuhle Xulu who posted video footage of police driving back students.

It was the second say of clashes at Johannesburg’s University of the Witwatersrand, known as “Wits”, after the government said 2017 tuition fees could rise by 8 percent, well above the 5.9 percent inflation rate.

The announcement, which is being treated as an interim solution until a presidential commission reports on the way forward for higher education funding in South Africa, was welcomed by Universities South Africa. At least 31 students were arrested near the Wits campus.

Police could not immediately comment on the clashes. One student appeared seriously injured as a stun grenade went off in her face as she fell to the ground. Police then fired rubber bullets and released teargas near the gate.

“When we were close to Rosebank College we were met with a police barricade who said we have to turn around otherwise they would open fire with rubber bullets”, said Fasiha Hassen, Secretary General of the SRC.

“I will not wait on the sidelines for any further damage to property, injuries to students or ultimately loss of life to occur before acting against violent campuses”, Nzimande said in a statement, without elaborating on what action he would take.

As some students threw rocks at police, they also targeted the media, blaming the press for the situation, angered at visuals being taken of their attempts to fight the police.