Police clash with protesters at Wits University

October 28, 2015 12:58 PM

"Most of the students have returned to the academic programme. We have about 30 students or so who have been marching around campus since this morning," Wits University spokeswoman Shirona Patel said.

Students throw stones during a confrontation with security guards as they protest over planned increases in tuition fees outside the (UJ) University of Johannesburg October 22, 2015. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

South African police fired stun grenades and arrested one student in clashes at Johannesburg's University of the Witwatersrand on Wednesday, as country-wide protests for free tertiary education entered a third week.

Studies and examinations have been disrupted at several universities and many remain closed even after President Jacob Zuma on Friday gave in to the protesting student's demands not to increase university fees next year.

Protests against tuition increases started at the university, known as "Wits", on Oct. 13 and spread to other campuses nationwide.

Some students at Wits are demanding free higher education, as well improved conditions for contracted university workers.

Patel said police had been allowed onto the campus to restrain the protesters. Some are suspected to have torched a bookshop overnight, local media reported.

The demonstrations over the cost of university education - prohibitive for many blacks - have highlighted frustration at the inequalities that persist two decades after the end of white-minority rule.

The campaign appeared to reach a climax on Friday, when police fired rubber bullets and tear gas at stone-throwing students on the grounds of the Union Buildings, the seat of government in Pretoria.