Students at the main campus of the University of Witwatersrand in Braamfontein have been asked to leave their lecture rooms and classes have been halted as fears of protests grips the institution.“Lectures have been stopped and we have been asked by security to come outside. But they are refusing anyone to get inside the university or get outside. Security personnel has been increased and we do not know what is next‚” said one of the students at the main campus.
  Students at the campus had been watching live coverage of the announcement by the Minister of Higher Education Blade Nzimande on fee increases for 2017. Tuition costs did not go up in 2016 as a result of last year’s #feesmustfall protests‚ but Nzimande said they actually did increase by 6%‚ it is just that the State cushioned the impact of the increase.While declining a moratorium on 2017 fee increases‚ he said that the duty of determining the extent of university fee hikes rested with the universities and not with him. He then recommended that university fee increases be capped at 8%.Students have been calling for fees to be frozen in all higher education institutions while the Fees Commission does its work. Apart from Nzimande's consultations with a range of stakeholders‚ a presidential fees commission headed by Justice Jonathan Heher is looking into the feasibility of free higher education and training. It is expected to submit a preliminary report to President Jacob Zuma in November and a full report in June. Meanwhile‚ the university said in a statement that the academic programme and all university activities were continuing as planned. It confirmed that additional security had been brought onto campus and that police were on standby.“We remind all colleagues and students that an interdict remains in place to protect staff‚ students and University property‚” it added. “We respect the rights of those who may wish to protest around these issues‚ provided that it does not infringe on the rights of those who wish to learn and work. All protests should be undertaken in line with the University's rules and the rights and responsibilities of all‚ as outlined in our Constitution‚” the university stated. ..