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| South African university students charged with violence | South African university students charged with violence |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Twenty-nine people have been charged with public violence in South Africa following the biggest student protests to hit the country since minority rule ended in 1994. | Twenty-nine people have been charged with public violence in South Africa following the biggest student protests to hit the country since minority rule ended in 1994. |
| Police fired tear gas and stun grenades on Wednesday to disperse students who had stormed the parliamentary complex. | Police fired tear gas and stun grenades on Wednesday to disperse students who had stormed the parliamentary complex. |
| The 29 who appeared in court in Cape Town were not asked to plead. | |
| The protests, sparked by an increase in tuition fees, have forced the closure of South Africa's top universities. | |
| President Jacob Zuma said he would meet student leaders on Friday to discuss their grievances. | President Jacob Zuma said he would meet student leaders on Friday to discuss their grievances. |
| The mainly black students say they cannot afford fee increases. | The mainly black students say they cannot afford fee increases. |
| They have rejected a government offer to cap increases at 6%, down from the 10% to 12% proposed by the management of universities. | They have rejected a government offer to cap increases at 6%, down from the 10% to 12% proposed by the management of universities. |
| Crowds of students gathered outside the court in support of their colleagues. | Crowds of students gathered outside the court in support of their colleagues. |
| The 29 have been released from police custody, and the case postponed to February. | The 29 have been released from police custody, and the case postponed to February. |
| Students are marching in the capital, Pretoria, chanting "Union Buildings", referring to where Mr Zuma and government ministers have their offices, South Africa's privately owned News24 site reports. | |
| Protests are also taking place in South Africa's two other main cities, Johannesburg and Cape Town. | Protests are also taking place in South Africa's two other main cities, Johannesburg and Cape Town. |
| Joining in solidarity | Joining in solidarity |
| The demonstrations began last week at Johannesburg's prestigious University of the Witwatersrand, before spreading across the country. | The demonstrations began last week at Johannesburg's prestigious University of the Witwatersrand, before spreading across the country. |
| Correspondents say the protests show growing disillusionment with the African National Congress (ANC) government, which took power after minority rule ended. | Correspondents say the protests show growing disillusionment with the African National Congress (ANC) government, which took power after minority rule ended. |
| Many black students say they come from poor families, and fee increases will rob them of the opportunity to continue studying. | Many black students say they come from poor families, and fee increases will rob them of the opportunity to continue studying. |
| Financially better-off white students have joined the protest, mainly to show solidarity with the black students. | Financially better-off white students have joined the protest, mainly to show solidarity with the black students. |
| Mr Zuma's office said he would meet student leaders and university officials "to discuss the stalemate with regards to university fee increases". | Mr Zuma's office said he would meet student leaders and university officials "to discuss the stalemate with regards to university fee increases". |
| "It is important that we work together to find solutions. Nobody disagrees with the message that students from poor households are facing financial difficulties and possible exclusion," he said in a statement. | "It is important that we work together to find solutions. Nobody disagrees with the message that students from poor households are facing financial difficulties and possible exclusion," he said in a statement. |
| Correspondents say Mr Zuma's intervention shows how seriously he is taking the protests. | Correspondents say Mr Zuma's intervention shows how seriously he is taking the protests. |
| Students are also demanding the resignation of Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande, who said on Monday that the protests were not a national crisis. | Students are also demanding the resignation of Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande, who said on Monday that the protests were not a national crisis. |