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Johannesburg — President Jacob Zuma would meet students and university management representatives today to try and end the wave of protests against tuition fee increases.

The discussion at the Union Buildings would include vice-chancellors, chairpersons of councils, and student leaders, Presidency spokesperson Bongani Majola said in a statement.

The government understood the difficulties students from poor households had paying their university fees.

“It’s important that we work together to find solutions. Nobody disagrees with the message that students from poor households are facing financial difficulties and possible exclusion,” Majola said.

Meanwhile, 29 protesters, most of them university students, were released on a warning and their case postponed to February next year in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

Kevin French, Markus Trengrove, Nathan Taylor, Chumani Maxwele, Kgotsi Chikane, and Lindsey Maasdorp were arrested on Wednesday during a protest against rising university fees that spilled over onto the Parliament precinct after students forced their way in.

The 23 others were arrested at the University of Cape Town (UCT) on Tuesday while taking part in protests that have engulfed varsity campuses across South Africa.

Prior to their release, Chikane, Maxwele, Maasdorp, Trengrove, Taylor, and French were brought into the packed court room from the holding cells, while the other 23 were released on bail after their arrest.

The 29, many looking tired, were charged with taking part in an illegal gathering and public violence, while Chikane, Maxwele, Maasdorp, Trengrove, Taylor, and French faced an additional charge of trespassing. — AFP