Roundup: Student protests over tuition hikes continue in S. Africa

South African university students continued their "FeesMustFall" protests across the country on Friday despite the arrest of almost 100 students.

The standoff between universities and students, who are demanding a zero percent fee increase for 2016, has affected 18 universities.

Early Friday morning, buses lined up to take students from different universities to the Union Buildings, the seat of the national government in Pretoria.

South African President Jacob Zuma has called for an urgent meeting with vice chancellors and student leaders on Friday in an attempt to break the impasse.

"It is important that we work together to find solutions. Nobody disagrees with the message that students from poor households are facing financial difficulties and possible exclusion.

"All parties must allow space for this matter to be discussed in a manner that will enable us to find a solution," said Zuma.

Phiwe Mahle, a second-year law student at Wits University in Johannesburg, joined a march to the ruling African National Congress (ANC) headquarters in Johannesburg.

"We reject any form of fee increase including the ceiling of 6 percent announced by the Minister of Higher Education and Training (Blade Nzimande) on Tuesday.

"Six percent is still too much. We are already struggling to pay the current fees that is why we are demanding a zero percent increase,"Mahle said.

Banele Khumalo from the University of Johannesburg also joined the protest.

Khumalo told Xinhua, "We will not tolerate a system that aims to define education as a special privilege for the rich.

"I believe education was supposed to be free since we got our freedom in 1994, because it is the greatest investment that South Africa can make."

The ruling party African National Congress (ANC) has also spoken out in full support of the students' demand for a zero-percent fee increase. In a strong worded statement, ANC Secretary General Gwede Mantashe described the universities' plans of increasing the already expensive fees as an act of financial exclusion that enforces discrimination.

"The challenges being raised by students are not exaggerated. Historically racial inequalities are emphasized and escalating costs have become another source of exclusion of the poor and children of the working class," Mantashe said.

On the other hand, the protests seem to have set an agenda for everyone in the country. It forced the police to activate its national central command unit to deal with the protests. The Cape Town Magistrate Court had to release up to 30 students arrested for taking part in a violent protest outside parliament on Wednesday, while the opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has demanded an urgent special sitting of parliament to find a solution to the protests.

Casper Makhanya, a Wits University student, said he was now pinning his hope on the meeting between Zuma, vice chancellors and student leaders.

"I expect a lot from President Zuma. He should be on our side.

"As a parent himself, I am sure he will make sure there is a solution."

The protests were generally peaceful in many parts of the country. However, some students at the University of Johannesburg and the University of Western Cape complained that police used stun grenades to disperse them.

Widespread protests have been going on for days across the country, triggered by tuition fee hikes ranging from 10 percent to 50 percent for the 2016 school year. The fee hikes came as a result of reduction in education funding by the government.

The government has proposed a 6 percent tuition fee hike, but students have rejected the proposal, demanding a zero-percent increase.

The students vowed to continue their protest until universities succumb to their demands. Endit