Chaos reigns at university campuses across the country

About 400 students earlier marched to the Provincial Legislature where they handed over a memorandum of demands - rejecting an increase in fees for 2017. 

SRC President of the Pietermaritzburg campus Siphelele Nguse says it's pointless for students to return to class when they cannot afford fees.

"It's futile for students to go to class now, knowing that at the end of the year they are not going to get their results. It's futile for students to go to class knowing that they're not going to be able to register because they owe the university funds," he said.

Fees Must Fall activist and member of the EFF Student Command, Xola Mehlomakhulu, echoed Nguse's sentiments.

"When we go back to class we legitimise the system that is already exclusionary. And so we're saying until something changes about that system - that system has to stop," he said.

Meanwhile, UCT has temporarily suspended classes, lectures and tutorials for today and tomorrow.

Earlier today students blocked the entrances to the campus as well as parts of the M3 highway.

They've also rejected Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande's fee recommendation for 2017.

UCT spokesperson Elijah Mohololo says meetings between management and students are planned for later this week. 

"The Jammie shuttle routes have been suspended, and all the libraries are closed until further notice. The UCT executive is seeking to engage with protesting students in response to their statements of demands," he said.

At Wits University in Johannesburg, students and private security pelted each other with large stones when students were refused entry into the Grand Hall building, earlier today.

Protesting students say they disrupt any classes or students studying at the campus - and will physically remove other students from their residences will go to residents to get students.

While at the University of the Free State (UFS), management on Tuesday said it had decided to close all it campuses until further notice - after careful assessment of the situation on the Bloemfontein, Qwaqwa, and South campuses.