This takes the number to 107 protesting students arrested nationally since Monday. National police spokesperson, Vishnu Naidoo, said the UFS students were likely to appear in court this morning. He said the students had contravened a court order issued by the university forcing them to leave the campus. Students are protesting against fee hikes for 2016.

To date, 43 students have been arrested in the North West province, 29 in Cape Town, 20 in the Eastern Cape and 15 in the Free State.

Meanwhile, the chairperson of the ANC in the Free State, Mxolisi Siyonzana, says the party understands the plight of protesting students.

He spoke to OFM News on Thursday night at the main entrance of the University, where students were protesting since the early morning. Students would not allow Siyonzana to address them, but he joined them in their #FeesMustFall chants, as students refuse to accept an increase of six percent in tertiary fees for 2016.

Siyonzana said an intervention is needed to help resolve what is currently happening at universities across the country.

The UFS will remain closed until Monday due to the protests.

Owen Kock/OFM News