A march over rising university fees saw the Union Buildings becoming a battleground between police and protesters.
Thousands of students gathered in Pretoria on Friday for the mass march.
This was preceded by days of mostly peaceful protesting by students at universities throughout the country about the fee issue.
But tempers boiled over on Friday.
A band of irate protesters attacked police and journalists, setting fire to the lawn of the Union Buildings and rioting in the city’s streets.
Students from University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), University of Pretoria (UP) and Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) all took part in the national #FeesMustFall campaign, demanding that tertiary education fees be scrapped or at least be capped.
On Wednesday and Thursday, UP students peacefully protested on the university campus and in the surrounding streets.
On Friday morning, they were joined by students from Wits and TUT as they marched to the Union Buildings in expectation that president Jacob Zuma would address them and respond to their demands.
The march itself was peaceful, as students sang and danced down Jan Shoba (Duncan) Street.
When the protesters arrived at the Union Buildings and were not immediately addressed by Zuma, some became irate, chanting, “Where is Zuma? Where is Zuma?”
Amid rising tension, a group of protesters tore down the metal fence around the Union Buildings and set fire to portable toilets.
Most of the protesters refused to become violent, instead chanting: “Peaceful protest. Peaceful protest.”
This did not deter rioters, who started throwing bricks and rocks at police and nearby journalists.
Police kept calm for hours, pushing the rioters back. Eventually they took more drastic measures, firing stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd.
This only worked for a while as the protesters quickly returned and made their way to the steps of the Union Buildings, still expecting Zuma to address them.
While the protesters were waiting, Zuma announced on television that a 0% fee increase for 2016 would be put into effect.
He also said long-term issues like free education and racism on campuses needed to be addressed.
The UP has since announced that needy students would not have to pay the registration fee when registering for 2016.
“Students who qualify for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), students who submit letters from sponsors, and financially needy students who make the necessary financial arrangements with the university, will be allowed to register without paying the initial fee on registration, provided they meet all other criteria,” Vice Chancellor Cheryl de la Rey said in a statement.
“In addition, students in financial need who have outstanding residence fees will be considered individually for assistance, should they meet all other residence placement criteria. Also, for students in financial need, the application fee will not be payable during 2016 for the 2017 academic year.”
When protesters learnt on Friday that Zuma would not address them, they rioted in streets, setting police cars alight and barricading roads.
Those injured in the process were treated by paramedics in the middle of dancing and singing crowds.
The protest continued into the night.
Also read:
#FeesMustFall student protest underway
Students protest again in city
Security tight at Union Buildings
Hundreds protest against Tuks fees
UP to join varsiy fee increment protests
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