This comes after students protested at the university on Monday following the announcement by the minister of higher education, Blade Nzimande, that university fees for 2017 could be determined by universities themselves and up to a maximum of 8%. 

SRC president at the university, Lindokuhle Ntuli, says they decided to call off all protest action following a meeting with students at a Lekgotla yesterday. 

Some political factions of students at times prevented members of the SRC from addressing their fellow students and threatened them with violence. He says the struggle of students against fees cannot be used to settle political scores.

"We might find ourselves in a situation where the life of a student is at risk and students may be harmed. There is a constant sabotage against SRC leadership and the attempt, of course, to use the platform for ulterior and political agendas," he said. 

Ntuli says they decided to call the protests off because it has the potential to lead to serious danger and damage to property. He says the SRC subscribes to non-violent protests and does not believe in intimidation of any students.

Meanwhile, the newly elected SRC president at the Central University of Technology, Ngozo Thapelo, says they will meet with students over the next two days to get a mandate from them on the way forward. 

OFM News