A small group of Wits University students disrupted a media briefing called by Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande and Police Minister Nathi Nhleko on Monday, chanting “Blade Must Fall”.

The small group were angered when Nzimande requested that only journalists ask him questions. Reacting to Nzimande’s request, one student in the group shouted “Voetsek Blade”, before he and several others were pushed away by Nzimande’s bodyguards.

Students then started chanting “Blade Must Fall”, while others threatened to set university buildings alight.

Nzimande said: “I will not dignify this with a response.”

The two ministers had called the media briefing to outline each department’s role in the current unrest on university campuses.

Nzimande said there was a fringe group that wanted to impose its views through violence. He said the involvement of security police was not their first choice, but he had a duty to protect university property.

Nhleko said the security agencies would assess the situations at universities before outlining each department’s next move to contain the unrest at universities.

“We will basically conduct a review and take stock of what the situation overall has been and what currently obtains and how we need to find a way of enforcing the law and re-cultivating the rule of law at our universities,” he said.

Last week, chaos erupted at various universities as student protests turned violent. Protesting students burnt down buildings, including the administration building at North West University.