Student leaders have vowed to make all universities ungovernable as they continue with their push for free education.

"This protest action speaks about fees falling and free quality education for all," Tshepang Mokgatla, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) student command member at Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), said on Monday morning.

"This protest is informed by a meeting that sat on Saturday. It was a call to say all universities in Gauteng must become ungovernable."

"We are planning on doing this until fees fall," he said.

TUT spokesperson Willa de Ruyter said protesting students had barricaded entrances to its campuses in Pretoria, its Arts campus, and campuses in Arcadia, Soshanguve, GaRankuwa and eMalahleni.

She said the protest formed part of the national drive for free education.

"In the interest of the safety of staff, students and TUT property, activities at these campuses were suspended for the day."

The situation will be monitored and an update issued in the course of the day.

Management remained committed to "engage with elected student leaders in order to resolve the situation", she said.

University of Pretoria spokesperson Anna-Retha Bouwer said the situation was tense at their campus, but that classes were continuing.

"We have seen an escalation in protests throughout the country and there have been calls that universities close down. We are monitoring the situation and we have called in police to assist," she said.