Johannesburg - News24 journalist Kaveel Singh was released by police on Friday afternoon after he was detained for covering student protests on the University of KwaZulu-Natal's Westville campus.
Police told Singh he would be charged with trespassing and resisting arrest. Police argued that only journalists and lecturers were allowed on campus.
But even UKZN officials said that Singh had done nothing wrong.
UKZN spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka told News24: "This is absolute rubbish. The man was doing his job.
"I have spoken to our Director of Risk Management and he has informed the police that this cannot stand. It cannot work like this."
"I had been doing nothing wrong and I was surrounded by police who took my phone and deleted my footage. I'm happy to be out but it doesn't say much for media freedom."
Six protesters who were arrested along with Singh were still in custody.