S.Africa police fire stun grenades at student protests

South African police fired stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse protesting students in central Johannesburg on Wednesday, in further outbreaks of unrest over higher tuition fees.

Students who had rallied outside Wits University allegedly breached a police cordon, sparking clashes as riot police in helmets and protective gear opened fire.

Some students were reportedly injured in the violence. The university said paramedics were on campus.

On Monday, the government announced that universities would set their own fee increases but that next year’s hikes would be capped at eight percent.

Unrest has hit many South African universities over the past year, as students protest against fee increases that they say force poorer, often black, pupils out of education.

Students and security guards on Tuesday fought at the Wits campus, hurling rocks at each other on the steps of the Great Hall auditorium.

Wits, the University of Cape Town and several other South African campuses have been closed this week due to the protests.