Water cannon douses fiery UKZN protest

Water cannon were used against protesting students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal's Westville campus on Tuesday, police said.

Colonel Jay Naicker said around 7am students started setting alight rubbish bins and tyres, and throwing stones and bottles.

"The public order police were alerted. Students refused to stop [their] violent actions and disperse. Police were forced to use water cannon," he said.

The students dispersed. Police were monitoring the situation.

Comment was not immediately available from the university, but it is believed the students were protesting at the university's proposal to increase registration fees.