Students at the institution’s Pietermaritzburg campus demonstrated this morning, disrupting lectures.

JOHANNESBURG - The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) has suspended all academic activity at its Pietermaritzburg campus due to Fees Must Fall protests.

Students at the institution demonstrated this morning, disrupting lectures.

Last week, the commission into free higher education heard submissions from role players in the sector.

The council for higher education recommended an across the board inflation-related increase for universities in 2017, which sparked anger from student bodies.

UKZN spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka says classes at the university have been suspended until Wednesday.

"The academic programme for today and tomorrow for Pietermaritzburg [has been suspended] to give the students that are protesting an opportunity to engage management, so that we come to understand what their real issues are."

LISTEN: More student protests over fees ahead?

Meanwhile, Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande says his department is consulting with other sectors about whether it's possible to avoid a fee hike next year, warning that the system could collapse if careful consideration isn't taken.

He says his department will hopefully make recommendations, by the end of the month, on the feasibility of free tertiary education in South Africa.

At last week's commission of inquiry, the council for higher education recommended an across the board inflation-related increase, at universities, in 2017.

Nzimande says it's important that the education system is sustainable.

"We have to also ensure that there's stability in the system; that is why we are sympathetic to what the students are saying - there's no doubt about that. The issue here is the modality and how we do this in such way that we don't cut our nose to spite our face."

STUDENT FINANCE DISCUSSION OLDER THAN 'FEES MUST FALL' MOVEMENT

At the same time, a Rhodes University lecturer says student finance has been an issue long before the Fees Must Fall protests.

Some student bodies have reacted to the news by threatening nationwide protests and two KwaZulu-Natal institutions have reportedly already been shut down.

Speaking to the John Maytham show, Rhodes lecturer Nomalanga Mkhize says students can't be blamed for funding concerns.

"Way before the protests of Fees Must Fall, we were already talking about the issues of sustainability because our universities are growing in size and a large portion of students can't afford the fees."