Student protests for free quality higher education are an opportunity for South Africans to demonstrate their patriotism, Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng said on Thursday.

He was paying tribute to former African National Congress (ANC) president Oliver Reginald Tambo on what would have been the struggle icon's 99th birthday. Tambo died in 1993.

Mogoeng spoke of the much-lauded values the long-serving ANC president displayed, telling guests at the event that although he had never met the leader, he learnt of him from a very young age.

During his talk Mogoeng also spoke of the current protests for free quality higher education at the country's tertiary institutions.

"We must never give students the impression that they are crazy," said Mogoeng. "We must engage them and explain to them."

Mogoeng said no one could claim to have a solution to the protests, but said this was an opportunity for South Africans to operate as a collective in seeking solutions to the issue. He added that he was weary of defining it as a crisis, but wanted to view it as a challenge instead.

The Chief Justice also decried those who criticised the demonstrations from afar. He said even if leaders disagreed with students, it was important to engage them to find solutions and stop the destruction of property.

"Students must be engaged. If we condemn students from afar without any meaningful engagement, we can only harden their attitudes."