Fees Must Fall movement hijacked: ANC

The comment comes after three petrol bombs were found at the Wits University in Johannesburg on Saturday.

The ruling party is urging students to return to classes and the negotiation table, saying nothing can serve as a substitute for dialogue.

Spokesperson Zizi Kodwa says management and students need to protect public and varsity property.

Protests erupted after Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande announced that varsities can determine their own fee increases for 2017 but capped any increments at 8%.

ALSO READ: Wits University appeals for an end to violence

Kodwa believes the genuine demands of students have been hijacked.

"Clearly the discovery of the three petrol bombs indicates that there is a need not just to protect assets but must prevent causalities. The intention is to cause violence, it's to actually launch discontent in order for police or any other security to respond with violence and therefore lead to causalities. At the end of the day its going to be the state that's going to be blamed and yet you've got people who have been militarised by one and another to attack innocent lives. Those bombs at the end of the day where going to be used against students, against security or against the management," he said.