Fees protests: Police say they exercise maximum restraint
The Acting National Police Commissioner, Khomotso Phahlane, on Monday said there are criminal elements in the 'Fees Must Fall' protests.
He briefed the media this afternoon saying police have been exercising restraint, but will take necessary action where needed.
"Our members have continued to display maximum restraint in the face of severe provocation. In some instances there have been running battles between the police and protesting students who have disrupted classes and traffic, pelted police with rocks, flooded premises with water from fire hoses, discharged fire extinguishers, overturned a vehicle and set property alight," he said.
Phahlane said criminality has taken advantage of the protests.
"People with agendas of their own have infiltrated the 'Fees Must Fall' initiative and we continue to call upon all those involved to exercise restraint," he said.
This comes after students today embarked on protest action at several universities in the country, demanding free higher education.
In Johannesburg, protesters clashed with police, barricaded roads in Braamfontein and set a bus alight.