Former University of Witwatersrand (Wits) Student Representative Council president Mcebo Dlamini criticised African National Congress (ANC) secretary general Gwede Mantashe on Friday, saying he had insulted students.

Responding to Mantashe's earlier statement that he would shut down universities to teach students a lesson, Dlamini said Mantashe's statement was uncalled for.

"He doesn't deserve a response. That is an insult. I think his own people must respond to him."

Dlamini said Mantashe was another example of why the ANC was losing its members.

He said Mantashe made the statement because his children were at universities in China.

"Our children are going to be maids of the children of [Higher Education and Training Minister Blade] Nzimande and Mantashe. We won't entertain it if the ANC continues with this arrogance come 2019."

'Close the universities'

Wits University students are planning to march to Cosatu House to hand over a memorandum of demands to its leaders.

Speaking in Cape Town at the South African Clothing Textile and Workers Union (Sactwu) congress this week, Mantashe said if he was minister of education his reaction to the #FeesMustFall students would be to close universities for 16 months.

"I'm not the minister of education. Because if I was, my first reaction would be to close them. For 16 months. And open them after six months, and close the residences for six months. After a year, people will know higher education will be important for their future. You are not doing anyone a favour by studying."

"...That will be my starting point, but unfortunately, I am not a minister of higher education."

Protests erupted across the country shortly after Nzimande announced that he would cap university fee increases at 8%.