The Department of Higher Education is investigating allegations that Julius Malema's Economic Freedom Fighters instigated the strike by students at the Medunsa campus of the University of Limpopo, in GaRankuwa.
Damage to university property caused by the strike amounts to about R1.2-million. and it has also allegedly endangered the health of more 700 patients at the adjacent Dr George Mukhari Hospital.
The strike enters its fourth week today.
Education Department spokesman Khaye Nkwanyana said the department wanted to find out how students could afford lawyers to challenge the university whenever it tried to interdict them from damaging property and intimidating staff.
Nkwanyana asked if it were a coincidence that students struck the day after they were addressed by Malema on campus.
"When the students marched [to the department's offices in Pretoria last month] there were EFF elements there.
"These are some of the reasons that convince us that the reports of EFF involvement have an element of truth," he said.
EFF spokesman Mbuyiseni Ndlozi did not deny the allegations, saying the party accepted responsibility "directly or indirectly, for all protests, struggles and marches in which people are fighting for justice and are attributed to the EFF".
"We plead guilty to being a protest movement," Ndlozi said.
Classes were suspended last week and students were barred from the GaRankuwa campus on Thursday.
One of the students' grievances is the renaming of the campus after former ANC president Sefako Makgatho.
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