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The tears, the violence, the anger – see all the action of #FeesMustFall

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Students flee as stones are hurled at security personnel guarding the Great Hall at Wits.
Students flee as stones are hurled at security personnel guarding the Great Hall at Wits.
Leon Sadiki

The scenes unfolding during student protests this week were described by City Press journalist Poloko Tau as a “warzone”.

Rubber bullets and tear gas were fired. Students were injured and arrested. Nobody has come up with a solution to end the chaos.

This week’s protests started shortly after Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande announced that universities would determine fee increases – not more than 8% – for 2017.

Students took to the streets in protest, and have refused to back down from their call for free education.

City Press photographer Leon Sadiki captured these scenes from the protests at Wits University this week.

Students flee as stones are hurled at security personnel guarding the Great Hall at Wits.
Students flee as a #FeesMustFall protest at Wits turns violent.
Students during the #FeesMustFall protest at Wits.
Security personnel struggle to control students trying to enter the Great Hall at Wits.
The doors to the Great Hall at Wits after students forced their way in.
Security guards retaliate during a #FeesMustFall protest at Wits
A students wields a fire extinguisher at Wits.
A #FeesMustFall protest at Wits.

Meanwhile, the University of KwaZulu-Natal was plunged into chaos yesterday as students and cops clashed on the streets around the university. Students set fire to furniture and rubbish and threw stones at passing vehicles. Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets, and arrested several students. City Press photographer Siyanda Mayeza took these pictures.

PHOTO: Siyanda Mayeza
PHOTO: Siyanda Mayeza
Police officers march away one of the protesters at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. PHOTO: Siyanda Mayeza
Police dressed in riot gear had to step in during a #FeesMustFall protest in Pietermaritzburg today. PHOTO: Siyanda Mayeza
Chaos reigned as police fired teargas cannisters during a protest in Pietermaritzburg today. PHOTO: Siyanda Mayeza
Members of the police struggle to detain a man during protests at the Pietermaritzburg campus of the University of KwaZulu-Natal today. PHOTO: Siyanda Mayeza
Several protesting students were arrested by riot police. PHOTO: Siyanda Mayeza
The entrance to the Malherbe Residence (men and women) is set alight during a #FeesMustFall protest at the University of Kwa-Zulu-Natal. The residence is situated on Durban Road opposite the university. PHOTO: Siyanda Mayeza
Members of the South African Police service were called in when University of KwaZulu-Natal students protested – they were insisting on a 0% fee increase. PHOTO: Siyanda Mayeza
A student is led away by a member of the South African Police Service as a protest over fees at the Pietermaritzburg campus of the University of KwaZulu-Natal got rowdy. PHOTO: Siyanda Mayeza
Police were on hand to disperse protesting #FeesMustFall students at the Pietermaritzburg campus of the University of KwaZulu-Natal. PHOTO: Siyanda Mayeza

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