University spokesperson, Alan Khan, said there would be no lectures, assessments or practicals, but that staff would still be expected to report for work.

The announcement followed protests on Monday as the university suspended its academic programme at the Indumiso campus in Pietermaritzburg.

Khan initially said that the decision had been taken to suspend lectures at the Indumiso campus in Pietermaritzburg, but later in the day it was decided to suspend the academic programme at all campuses.

Khan said: “We couldn’t compromise on student’s safety.”

In Durban, students marched between the four campuses – Steve Biko campus, Ritson Campus, ML Sultan Campus and the City Campus – singing struggle songs and demanding the elimination of tuition fees.

There were reports that some students attempted to remove students from lectures and classes at the ML Sultan Campus.

Referring to the protests in Durban, police spokesperson, Thulani Zwane, said: “The situation is tense at the moment and members are on the scene. A fast food outlet was destroyed by protesters. No arrests have been made.”

It is understood that it was a Chicken Licken store that was invaded by students.

Zwane said in Pietermaritzburg at the Indumiso Campus there was a protest involving some 400 students.

“We can confirm that 400 students are protesting outside Indumiso Campus. The situation is calm at the moment. Members are at the scene to monitor the situation,” he said.

With the exception of two broken windows at the City Campus, there were no immediate reports of violence or damage to property at the institution, which has a student body of about 27,000 students.

The institution had been closed last week and Monday marked the start of the fourth term.

Khan said the interim vice chancellor, Dr John Volmink, had written to staff, students and alumni on the latest situation regarding fees following the announcement by Higher Education Minister, Blade Nzimande, last week that fees could be increased by as much as eight percent, but that government would provide extra funding for the poorest students.

He said that the institution was urging all students who participate in protests to do so peacefully and to respect the rights of those who did not want to protest.

ANA