There were forces trying to use the student protests as part of a programme to destabilise the state, African National Congress (ANC) secretary general Gwede Mantashe said on Monday.

"People of South Africa should be more vigilant and appreciate the broader threats of counter-revolution beyond the university campuses, as witnessed in other countries, are a reality of the day," he told reporters in Johannesburg.

"The national executive committee [NEC]... expressed grave concerns about attempts to use genuine concerns of students for other objectives."

Mantashe was addressing the media following an NEC meeting in Pretoria at the weekend.

He said the NEC re-affirmed the view that the demand for a 0% fee increase for next year was "understandable and reasonable".

However, the ANC had identified what it called "early signs of counter-revolution".

These included targeting the state and state institutions, particularly the attempt to storm Parliament and the Union Buildings, as well as slogans of regime change, Mantashe said

He claimed foreign funding was channelled to various students' accounts.

Other signs identified were the so-called provocation of police with the pronounced desire to trigger "another Marikana"; undermining elected Student Representative Councils and "setting up units of destruction" on various campuses under the slogan of "total shut-down".

Mantashe said killing police officers was also seen as part of the programme to undermine the state.

"The NEC appealed to all South Africans to support the police and encourage them to act decisively in instances of anarchy and blatant undermining of the state and its institutions.

"Police must be able to ensure the maximum safety and security of the citizens at all times," he said.

News24.com