A group of about 50 students forced their way into the department of higher education and training offices.

PRETORIA - Pretoria police have released about a dozen students who they detained after a sit-in at the higher education department's reception area earlier today.

Minister Blade Nzimande had earlier met with the interim board of convocations and alumni to discuss the ongoing protests at universities across the country.

Nzimande and the board have condemned the violent demonstrations and disruptions to learning.

A group of about 50 students forced their way into the higher education department's reception area, where they were stopped by security and a handful of police officers.

#Fees2017 TRT eject students from higher education reception area. BB pic.twitter.com/B9Fk6ehiiq — EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) September 27, 2016

The group were singing struggle songs as they demanded the minister provide free higher education.

Within minutes, additional police officers arrived and ejected the students onto the street outside, where several students, who resisted the police, were arrested.

Nzimande has called for an end to violent demonstrations and for the majority of students who've accepted the recent fee proposal to make their voices heard.

He says those who destroy property must be dealt with.

"We are working with law enforcement agencies, and we have also said this to our universities, that those who destroy property must be dealt with."

The minister says he hopes, through negotiations, to bring an end to these demonstrations by next week.