The (South African Students Congress) Sasco on Wednesday said it would protect tertiary institutions from what it claimed was violence instigated by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).

"If they want to continue their hooliganism and burn our institutions, we have now taken a decision to say we are going to protect those institutions ourselves,” Sasco secretary general Tembani Makata said.

“The majority of those people mobilised, who are wearing red T-shirts, are not even students of an institution."

She called on EFF student leaders to stop instigating violence

“They must not push this generation into burning buildings.”

Sasco president Thabo Majola said the EFF should stop threatening students to participate in their protests.

"Even when they want to start engaging, EFF puts notes on the doors of all students, threatening their lives. It goes and closes residences, forces students to go and participate in their strikes."

EFF Student Command leader Mpho Morolane was surprised Sasco was blaming it for violence on campuses.

“If they want to take action we will await any action. We are prepared. It is shocking they are trivialising the general students’ cause to only one student population. They have run out of ideas."

Morolane said he was disappointed by Sasco.

Wits University vice chancellor Adam Habib on Monday warned Police Minister Nathi Nhleko that some students were calling for their own version of the Marikana massacre to advance their cause for free education.

On Tuesday, students and police clashed as Wits University reopened its doors. Seventeen students were arrested. Police fired rubber bullets and teargas at students after they attempted to break a police chain. Some students threw stones at officers. International relations lecturer David Hornsby, students, and police officers were injured.