Nine arrested as student protests turn violent in S. Africa

Nine people have been arrested overnight as student protests against fee increases turned violent, police said on Saturday.

A heavy contingent of police has been dispatched to the Johannesburg CBD, the focal point of student protests.

Two vehicles were torched and shops looted allegedly by protesters, and passing cars were pelted with rocks and bottles, witnesses said.

Student protests have spread from Wits University in Johannesburg to the downtown area over the past few days despite the resumption of classes on the campus.

Police said they have managed to contain the situation.

The ruling African National Congress claimed that the protests which have been going on for weeks had been incited by "opportunistic elements".

Students have threatened to disrupt all universities if their demand for zero-percent fee increase is not met.

Nationwide protests erupted late last month after Minister of Higher Education and Training Blade Nzimande announced that universities can raise tuition fees for 2017, provided it will not exceed eight percent.

During the protests in Wits University, police at times fired stun grenades and rubber bullets at protesters in an attempt to disperse them.

South African universities were hit by widespread protests over fee increases last year. According to official figures, the unrest cost more than 145 million rand (about 10.8 million US dollars) in damage.

The government then suspended fee increases for 2016 and provided universities with billions of rand for the shortfall. Endit