Police who attended to the student protests at several universities across the country have alleged that some of the protesting students had guns.

“Police said some of the students had live ammunition. We cannot confirm that… You may know better… Nonetheless, it is what they are putting to us,” said Higher Education and Training Director General Gwebinkundla Qonde.

He was addressing student representatives at a round table discussion held at the Southern Sun hotel at OR Tambo International Airport on Thursday.

The student representatives had raised their concerns about what they labelled police brutality during the student unrest, which resulted in scores being arrested countrywide.

Qonde said they were currently in talks with the police to find out what had happened.

“They are taking stock of everything that has happened and we are raising issues of concern as a department in terms of the feedback we have been getting from the public and the students,” he said.

Qonde echoed the sentiments of Higher Education Minister, Blade Nzimande, who said while students were allowed to protest, violence would not be tolerated.

“You cannot be protesting all the time and disengage. [Protests] are usually a catalyst for engagement but you cannot be on permanent protest,” he said. NEWS24