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Durban - A mass meeting with irate Unisa students and University Vice Chancellor Mandla Makhanya has ended.
Barring a brief melee between riot police and students, and the poorly aimed throwing of a dead pigeon in Makhanya’s direction, the group dispersed without incident.
The protest is understood to emanate from the closure of rural exam centres across the province, as well as consternation around fees.
Riot police closed Stalwart Simelane Street in Durban as nearly 1 000 disgruntled students gathered outside the city campus.
The group, led by student council leaders, read out a memorandum to Unisa management officials and jeered Makhanya when he tried to address them.
Unisa spokesperson Martin Ramotshela said the gathering had come to an amicable end.
"The outcome is simple. The students had requested to meet the VC and hand their memorandum over to him personally. He travelled to Durban so that he could receive their document and that is why he was here today," he said.
"They read it out and he received it with a list of their issues. This is with an agreement that the parties will start proper engagements on Monday with a view to find a resolution by Thursday."
