WATCH: Student protests prompt Durban prayer service

The prayer service was organised by the Alliance of Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches of South Africa to end the wave of violent protests at universities nationwide. 

The students condemned acts of violence, vandalism and the destruction of property at institutions of higher learning. 

They left the venue abruptly after hearing that Higher Education Minister, Blade Nzimande, who was expected there - was no longer attending. 

Invited guests were informed that the Minister was at the ICC but because of a two hour delay with the start of the programme he had to leave as he had another engagement. 

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Fees Must Fall activist, Sithembiso Shandu, expressed pride in the way those who attended presented themselves. 

"The fact of the matter is that we demand our free education now and we are not rascals or hooligans. We are young people. We are children of the poor working class," he said. 

"We are children from the poor of the poor. What we want is free education, we want the promise which was made in 1994," Shandu said. 

The students expressed gratitude for the prayer and requested that their messages be passed onto the Minister.