The University of KwaZulu-Natal announced on Thursday that its Howard College campus would be closed because of student protests.

Continuing protests in the morning prompted the move, it said in a statement.

On Wednesday, police were called and used stun grenades to disperse students. They arrested five students.

All was quiet on Thursday afternoon, with a small police contingent present. The protests were over a lack of security at residences leased by the university for students.

The Mercury newspaper reported on Wednesday that a woman was raped two months ago at a residence in Montclair, Durban.

At the same residence last week, students were held up by armed robbers.

The two incidents allegedly sparked the protests in Durban.

On Thursday, overturned tables and refuse bins could still be seen on the campus.

Mbadi said the arrested students had been released and university management was trying to reach a peaceful solution with the students.