Blade must fall

Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande's attempts to address protesting students outside Parliament today as they continued to jeer him.

Students, who had earlier stormed the parliamentary precinct. had chanted, "We want Blade".

Nzimande at the time was sitting in the National Assembly listening to Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene presenting his medium term budget policy statement.

While the mini budget was being delivered, stun grenades and teargas were being used in Parliament's precinct to disperse the students who had made their way to the steps of the National Assembly.

After the budget, Nzimande went to the gates to address to students. He was booed.

Trying to speak through a loudhailer Nzimande said, "You asked me to speak. I'm pleading with you to let me speak."

But majority of the students could not hear him.

The minister said his department was coming up with a framework but students said they were tired of frameworks and wanted solutions.

Students continued to chant "Blade must fall" as Nzimande tried to address them.

Eventually the protesting students threw water bottles at him, forcing the minister to leave.