Police used stun grenades to disperse students at the University of Cape Town in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

More than 20 students have been arrested for being in violation of a court order obtained by the university prohibiting them from occupying any property of the institution.

The students blocked the entrance to the Bremner Building.

The university earlier obtained an interdict in the Western Cape High Court preventing protesting students from disrupting normal activities on the campus.

On Monday, students brought the institution to a standstill, resulting in classes being suspended over an increase in student fees.

Police escorted the students one by one to waiting police vans. They did not resist arrest but sang protest songs.

The court order prevents the disruption of lectures, tutorials and examinations on all campuses as well as barricading entrances to the campus. It further prevents students from committing acts of arson or damaging property.

Students have vowed to continue their protests actions at UCT and Stellenbosch universities on Tuesday. A mass meeting is expected to be held at UCT at around lunch time.

The university has since dropped the percentage to 20 while students who can’t afford that can arrange to pay over ten months

Lectures at Wits University remain suspended on Tuesday following Monday’s violent protests.

Students overturned a bakkie after the driver had tried to drive through a student blockade on Empire Road in Parktown.
The driver was assaulted before being rescued by police.

Wits vice-chancellor, Adam Habib has warned that the university could face closure if the violent protests escalate further.

The University council says it has made several concessions with regard to the increase in tuition fees for next year.

Meanwhile, students at Rhodes University in Grahamstown have rejected a lower fee increase offer and have vowed to continue with their protests.

They want the university to scrap the Minimum Initial Payment, where students are required to pay 50%  of their tuition fees in advance, to register for next year.

The university has since dropped the percentage to 20 while students who can’t afford that can arrange to pay over ten months.

The university says the fee hike is unavoidable as government funding is minimal.

Credit:  SABC, News 24 & EWN