However, more than 100 protesting students gathered at Church Square ahead of the march.

Tshwane Metro police spokesperson Isaac Mahamba said: “The reason they didn’t get approval is because they didn’t meet the requirements of the security cluster, which indicates that they should provide us a letter showing who is going to receive their memorandum … they couldn’t provide that.

“Secondly they will be ferrying students from all the provinces into Church Square and we advised them that there is not enough parking space for more than 10 buses.”

He, however, acknowledged that students remained defiant even after they were made aware of the implications of participating in an illegal march.

“If the march continues, we will open a case with the police and declare the march illegal. Should anything go wrong the organisers of the march will be held accountable.”

Motorits have been warned of possible disruptions.

For weeks university students protesting for free education at state institutions have been engaged in running battles with police and private security details. Some universities have closed as a result of the violence that has led to destruction of infrastructure estimated at half a billion rand.

Mametlwe Sebei from the Workers and Socialist Party, who said he was helping to organise the march, claimed it was “actually” the metro police who were acting unlawfully.

“We have a democratic right to demonstrate and protest peacefully and in a non-violent manner. We have notified the police and complied in every manner possible.”

Sebei said students intend to conduct their march in a peaceful and disciplined manner.

“What the police do today is entirely up to them.”

ANA