The African National Congress-led alliance believes that the #FeesMustFall protests have become an attempt to overthrow the government.

This emerged in a joint statement released on Wednesday by the African National Congress (ANC), the Congress of South African Trade Unions, the South African Communist Party and the South African National Civics Organisation in KwaZulu-Natal.

“It is our considered view that a genuine struggle has been hijacked by forces whose sole purpose is to deligitimise the State and cause a regime change,” the statement said.

The four organisations condemned the violence that had accompanied the ongoing protests.

According to the statement the four organisations agreed with the aim of free education, but that violence could not be the means of obtaining it.

“We strongly condemn the destruction of property and criminality which has accompanied the struggle for free and quality education for the poor.”

The four organisations pledged to work with students, parents, business, religious leaders and others in a bid to bring stability to the country’s university campuses