PHOTOS: Wits fee hike suspended after all-night debate
The three-day protest at Wits has ended for now, with the university's management agreeing to suspend the decision to increase fees next year.
Students are unhappy with the 10.5% fee hike, saying it's unaffordable.
Vice-Chancellor Adam Habib, who had arrived on the main campus yesterday morning to address students, was told he would not leave until the decision was reversed.
They demanded to be addressed by council chairperson Randall Carolissen who was in Durban at the time attending the Higher Education Summit.
After the protesting students blocked all exit points on campus and showed no signs of relenting, Carolissen was forced to urgently fly back to Johannesburg.
After arriving on campus, he tried to reason with the students in the Great Hall who would has refused to allow Habib and other officials to go.
"Wits students have the right to protest - that's an inalienable right. But if we have a situation where we have people trapped on campus and their children are alone at home we cannot tolerate that. You have families also.
Carolissen assured them management was taking their demands very seriously but the students were unconvinced and broke into protest song.
Following an all-night debate, agreement was reached and signed between management and students leaders that the fee increase will be put on hold until the matter is discussed further at a meeting tomorrow.
Lectures will remain suspended on Monday.
(Photos)