Frustrated and heavily indebted university students across the country have joined the Economic Freedom Fighters' (EFF's) national shutdown to voice their displeasure with the government.

The South African Union of Students (SAUS), which previously revealed that students owe learning institutions R16.5-billion nationally, said on Monday that students were excited to join the demonstration. 

"The excitement might be driven by the fact that students want to work after they graduate. Students are tired of loadshedding, a high crime rate and social ills affecting young people," SAUS president Lubabalo Ndzoyiya said.

They heeded EFF president Julius Malema's call to join the demonstration to demand electricity and the resignation of President Cyril Ramaphosa.

But the SAUS appealed to participants to protest peacefully. 

"We as the union understand that there are political issues that need to be resolved with speed, hence we see these demonstrations. We also understand the fears of protesters looting and damaging property like before and we call on those who will be marching to do it as peaceful as possible, and we call on all security forces to not dare arrest students," Ndzoyiya added.

At one of the four universities in the Eastern Cape, Walter Sisulu University, 34 000 students owe the cash-strapped institution a staggering R1.3-billion.  

The streets of East London came alive from midnight on Sunday, with students marching and singing in Fleet Street, Oxford Road and on the beachside Esplanade.

Soldiers were posted at the airports in Mthatha, East London and Gqeberha - all three airports in the province.

Navy seals and air force members were also on standby.

The soldiers were activated by the commander-in chief of armed forces, Ramaphosa, to help Public Order Police maintain law and order and protect national keypoints. 

No incidents of violence have been reported in the province so far.