Pretoria - The academic program at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in Johannesburg, South Africa, resumed today amid tension and a heavy police presence as a result of the protests of the past two weeks.

Groups of students gathered singing songs, while the police warned of a ban on gatherings of more than 15 people, because they are considered to be a violation of a court order of the institution.

The Wits has been the epicenter of the protests that broke out in several universities across the country, following the announcement by the Minister of Higher Education, Blade Nzimande, regarding the increase in tuition fees up to eight percent in 2017.

Young people from poor families and of lesser resources, which are subsidized by the government, would be exempt from the measure.

President Jacob Zuma expressed yesterday his desire to see an urgent solution to the current crisis in higher education.

Zuma spoke at a meeting in Kempton Park, Johannesburg, which was attended by concerned parties in this issue.

Numerous campuses in South African universities were forced to close after students began the violent demonstrations.

The Executive Committee of the African National Congress (ANC) extensively discussed the protests and reiterated its concern about damage to property, intimidation and violence.

According to a statement by the ANC Secretary General, Gwede Mantashe, at least two conferences of the organization show 'our willingness to articulate the free higher education', particularly for students from poor and working-class families.

'We have been working hard to ensure the progressive realization of this goal,' in Mantashe's words.

He pointed out that the recent announcement by Nzimande was 'a significant step towards the realization of gratuity of higher education for poor students.'

He further stated that students currently receiving financial assistance, as well as new applicants, 'will receive support to cover the costs of 2017'.

This is an unprecedented progressive intervention by the ANC government. Only those who can afford to pay will do so, said the party leader.