WATCH: Students mobilise at Curries Fountain ahead of fees march
Scores of DUT students have gathered at the institution's Ritson campus - ahead of a march through the Durban city centre, in support of free higher education.
Others have been singing in protest outside Curries Fountain, across the road from the campus.
It's expected that 5000 students from various KZN academic institutions, as well as members from civil society, will participate in the march to City Hall.
Student leader Nompilo Mkhize says they're now rallying further support.
She says many students are afraid to join the protest, fearing police brutality.
"We are trying to convince students that the police are not here to brutalise but they here to ensure that the march is peaceful, it goes accordingly and to assist us to marshalling the march. So right now we just waiting for the student leaders from DUT to come through and let them know that the march we are embarking on is legal," she said.
Strong police presence at Curries Fountain ahead of varsity students march to dbn harbour pic.twitter.com/rSUzmaCGP2
— Anelisa Kubheka (@AnelisaKubheka) October 11, 2016