Lectures resumed on Tuesday morning at the troubled University of Witswatersrand (Wits) amid heavy presence of police and private security guards.
Despite the violence on Monday that saw running battles between students, police and security guards, the university announced lectures would continue.
Cleaners were seen sweeping the floors and steps of the Great Hall, the site of Monday’s battle, while security guards ensured that the safety of the campus on Tuesday.
Protesting Wits students affiliated with #FeesMustFall have vowed to shut down the campus until their demands for free education are met.
Wits spokesperson, Sherona Patel, said: “The next 10 days are crucial in saving the academic year. The suspension of 2016 academic year would jeopardise at least 30,000 students”.
She said the university did not have control over police and the action they were taking to control unruly behaviour.
Acting South African national police commissioner Khomotso Phahlane on Monday ruled out declaring a state of emergency following violent clashes between police and students at various university campuses.
Phahlane also lamented the levels of violence and vandalism accompanying the ongoing #FeesMustFall protests at South African universities, urging the students to exercise some restraint.
Some students at Wits main campus began attending lectures on Tuesday morning while others were seen sitting in groups.
On Monday running battles between protesting students and police as well as private security that spilled over the street of Braamfontein after students demonstrated outside the Great Hall.
Police fired rubber bullets, stun grenades and teargas after hundreds of students pelted them with stones.
Protesters also threw stones at private security manning the Great Hall entrance.
Dispersed with teargas, stun grenades and water canons protesting students ran into Braamfontein, thrashing concrete dustbins and setting a bus alight in their wake. A shop that sells Puma sports products was looted.
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