Minister addresses students outside parliament

This after police and university students have clashed at the Parliament precinct.

The minister's attempts to appease the crowd were in vain as students chanted "zero, zero, zero" referring to next year's fee increase.

Earlier the students, mostly from the University of Cape Town and the Cape Peninsula University of Technology who had been standing outside the gates, stormed the precinct and charged towards the steps.

Shortly afterwards police fired stun grenades at the demonstrators to disperse them.

They were later forced out again by public order police. Once outside, the angry students pelted the police with rubbish and other object and threw water at  them.

They also chanted 'We want Blade' - referring to the Higher Education Minister. 

While inside Parliament Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene's mid-term budget speech was delayed when the EFF wanted it postponed because of the protests over university.

MPs later voted to reject the motion by the EFF. But when Nene took to the podium EFF members broke out in protest - chanting 'Fees Must Fall' while holding up posters.

House Chairperson Thoko Didiza had them removed.

Nene resumed his speech despite the mayhem outside and told the National Assembly the past week has reminded them of the challenges of financing higher institutions of learning. 

The Minister condemned the protests, both at the institutions countrywide, and at parliament.

"It needs to be said that disruption of learning is not constructive neither is disruption of Parliament. But Minister Nzimande has rightly indicated the need to strengthen student financing further and to find solutions where current arrangements are inadequate. Government is seized with this matter," he said. 

No budget was allocated to institutions of higher learning.

(Thumbnail photo via Twitter/Phaphama Joyi)