SOUTH African police met stone-throwing students with tear gas, rubber bullets and stun grenades yesterday in a second day of clashes in Johannesberg over free education.

Several University of Witwatersrand students were injured, South African media reported.

The university said it would remain closed for the rest of the week and was identifying those involved in the clashes, while classes in the University of Cape Town were also suspended.

Students are outraged over the government announcement that universities can increase fees by 8 per cent next year.

The Communist Party and revolutionary trade union federation Cosatu called for a tax on the rich to fund free university education.

The two bodies condemned the violence, calling on students to “redirect their mobilisation to the doorsteps of capital.”

To soften the effect of rising tuition fees on poor students the government promised on Monday to pay £140 million in grants.