For the first time in history, stun grenades were fired in the parliamentary precinct when hundreds of students protesting against increased student fees entered the gates through an open gate from Spin Street.

One of the arrested students claimed to be the son of Dr Frank Chikane, former secretary to Cabinet.

The students were peac eful at all times, but were at times roughly handled as they were driven back by police, in scenes reminicent of the 1980's.

As shots burst over parliament, finance minister Nhlanhla Nene continued with his medium term budget policy statement inside the National Assembly chamber, as if in another world.

Outside, shots were being fired, hundreds of students were chanting against the government and were being driven back by heavily armed police, some of whom were masked and in camouflage gear.

Several students were arrested and injured.

The students were at all timesd peaceful and well behaved, folding their arms above their heads to show they were unarmed.

Amazing scenes played out as the students - a multiracial group - sang the whole national anthem - Nkosi sikelel' iAfrika and Die Stem - while police charged and fired on them.

One of the stun granades was fired over the bronze bust of Nelson Mandela, father of South African democracy.

"Whites to the front! They won't shoot you!" was the cry as the police turned violent.

Parliament has four entrances: three on Plein Street and one on Spin Street.

The gates at the Spin Street entrance were open and that is where students first entered.

Later, they also forced open the middle entrance from Plein Street.

They demanded to be addressed by higher education minister Blade Nzimande who was in the National Assembly.

DA MPs Anette Steyn and Gordon Mackay, IFP MPs Mkhuleko Hlengwa and Liezl van der Merwe, and several EFF MPs joined the students on the cobblestones in the parliamentary precinct.

Inside the chamber, DA leader Mmusi Maimane asked President Jacob Zuma and Nzimande to address the students "as leadership is required."

But Zuma remained seated, ashen faced, in his presidential chair, barely moving.