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DUT closed for the week

Durban - The Durban University of Technology will be closed for the rest of the week following violent protests on Wednesday, a university spokesperson said.

"We have decided to suspend lectures on Thursday and Friday this week, however, staff are expected to be on duty from Thursday morning," DUT spokesperson Alan Khan told News24.

Khan said a meeting between the SRC, the NSFAS chief executive and the chief director of higher education had been encouraging.

"We had a positive meeting with NSFAS, the SRC and DUT management. Some resolutions were agreed to, however, there is no agreement in place."

Khan added that the university felt there was "no indication that the strikes will subside".

Earlier police and protesting DUT students clashed outside the Coastlands Hotel in Musgrave.

Heavy police presence

When students attempted to leave the area they were met by officers from the public order policing (POP) unit who pursued them down Musgrave Road.

Police fired rubber bullets while students threw bricks and stones. One officer, in an attempt to arrest a protester, fell, landing on his face and dropping his shot gun.

Students thereafter returned to DUT escorted by a heavy police presence.

Earlier, students who had gathered on Steve Biko Road dispersed after saying they would rest for the day and take to the streets on Thursday.

However, they later gathered at the same location and began "giving input" to leaders and discussing their "struggle".

Following the gathering, around 200 students walked to the upmarket Coastlands Hotel on Musgrave Road calling for Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande to address them. Nzimande was not at the meeting.

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