Students at the campus have been demonstrating against government’s decision to leave fee hikes for next year up to universities, with a ceiling of 8 percent.
One student was rushed to hospital this afternoon after she was shot in the arm with a gas canister, during a police attempt at dispersing a crowd.
Students say while they are physically and emotionally tired from today’s clashes with officials, they won’t back down.
The police’s Thulani Zwane says the nine arrested students are expected in court tomorrow.
“Nine suspects were arrested during the violence that was taking place at the Pietermaritzburg campus today. They will appear tomorrow in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate Court facing charges of public violence and malicious damage to property. They are in custody right now.”
Protests erupted at several South African universities on Monday shortly after Nzimande announced that fee increases for next year will be left up to individual varsities, with a cap at 8 percent.
