5 facts about protests at 5 universities

Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande announced that universities would determine their own fee increments for the 2017 academic year and that students from NSFAS and the 'missing middle' would be exempt from any fee increases, but students said they were done talking about increments and want free education at institutions of higher learning.

Students have vowed to continue shutting down campuses until their demands are met.

Here are the top five things you need to know from five universities rocked by violent student protests:

Wits

1. The Wits University's management decided to reopen campuses on Tuesday, under heavy police guard after 77% of those who took part in a poll indicated they wanted to return to class.

2. Students failed to obtain an interdict against the poll, arguing that management would bully staff into voting for classes to resume. They suggested a student assembly or student parliament.

3. Wits Vice Chancellor, Adam Habib in a letter pleaded with staff to support this decision in the interest of saving the 2016 academic year. "If we do not get this right tomorrow (Tuesday), we have no choice but to close the University, which will compromise the 2016 academic programme and the lives of all 37 000 students. It means that all students will have to move out of residences before the end of the week," Habib said.

4. Celumusa Ntuli, a cleaner at Wits, died on the Braamfontein campus. Ntuli was cleaning the Jubilee Hall of Residence, when protesters entered and released fire extinguishers. He fell ill shortly thereafter. The cause of death is still to be determined.

5. Wits made headlines after violence erupted on 20 September in front of Solomon Mhlangu House. Students pelted private security with stones, who retaliated by throwing stones back at students.

UJ

1. Despite sporadic protests at the university's campuses, management has not suspended any classes.

2. Media was barred from campuses. Vice-Chancellor Ihron Rensburg later assured media that they would be allowed to cover protest action on campuses

3. Students and journalists have accused private security of brutality and sexual assault. University management has condemned the attacks.

4. Human rights organisation Access to Justice are in the process of filing an application at the High Court in Johannesburg in a bid to interdict private security at the university.

5. The auditorium at the Bunting campus was damaged by a fire on 29 September.

Rhodes

1. Classes continued on 28 September after heavy clashes between police and students.

2. Rhodes University made headlines after an Oppidan Press video showed acts of alleged police brutality. The Independent Police Investigative Directorate is investigating the claims. 

3. A fire was started at a basement entrance on the main administration building on 1 October. 

4. Some staff members have publicly voiced their support of the 'Fees Must Fall' movement. Some have also stationed themselves at entrances to lecture venues to prevent damage to property

5. A male student was found dead on campus on 24 September, but his death was not linked to protest action

DUT

1. Lectures have resumed at all campuses. A fake communiqué that had been circulating on social media this week - stating that all DUT campuses would be closed for the rest of the year - has since been dismissed by management. 

2. A campus-owned vehicle was burnt at the Steve Biko campus, allegedly in retaliation to the appointment of new SRC leaders. 

3. DUT management, SRC leaders, and representatives from NSFAS and the higher education department conducted a closed meeting last week to discuss student demands. 

4. Protesting students marched to the Coastlands Hotel in Musgrave where the meeting was being held, demanding an audience with higher education minister, Blade Nzimande. The protest turned violent, and police had to use tear gas to disperse the angry crowds. 

5. At a prayer meeting last week, students turned up in their numbers to discuss a peaceful resolution to the ongoing fees protests. Minister Nzimande, who was scheduled to speak at the event, allegedly left without addressing the crowds - due to a delay in the start to proceedings. 

UKZN

1. Lectures have resumed at all campuses. In early-September, university management shut down the institutions and brought the recess period forward - following violent clashes between students and police. 

2. The law library and a cafeteria were burnt down at UKZN's Howard College campus. Meanwhile, a student residence was set alight at the PMB campus, early last week. The university estimates the cost of damage to property at around R150-million.

3. UKZN PMB science student Zinhle Masangwana was shot and injured when police opened fire on protesting students outside the Malherbe Residence building, in late September.

4. Students from UKZN PMB campus staged a peaceful march to the provincial legislature last month, to hand over a memorandum to Speaker Lydia Johnson - demanding the removal of "violent" private security guards at the campus.

5. Cases of sexual assault were opened at Alexandra Police Station in Pietermaritzburg, against police officers who allegedly sexually abused female students in their residences.