* This story has been updated.
Johannesburg – The higher education convention held in Midrand this morning turned chaotic with student leaders fighting and hurling chairs at each other.
The convention held at Eskom Learning Academy is meant to look into issues facing higher education.
Students arrived over an hour late to the event and once proceedings started, still could not agree on the program.
Student leaders from Afriforum were supposed to address delegates but other political formations refused.
#EduCrisisForum… chairs, bottles & fists flying. #Blade evacuated! pic.twitter.com/GjOEyIUwDf
— Nthabi (@anonymousnthabi) March 18, 2017
While the Afriforum matter was being discussed, EFF student command leader Phiwaba Madokwe took to the podium and said the meeting was useless.
"We have been fighting for free education for years. How are we, three years after fees must fall, still discussing the same issues?"
She said if the convention does not address the expulsion of students and criminal charges against them dropped, the EFF would not take part.
When Wits FeesMUstFall leader Busisiwe Seabe started addressing the audience, students aligned with the ANC started screaming "who is she representing?".
The EFF tried to protect her but it all ended with Progressive Youth Alliance students started and growing chairs and water bottles at the EFF.
After an hour break at the education convention, EFF student command students stormed the stage to refuse Wits university vice-chancellor Professor Adam Habib from addressing them.
Habib was speaking on behalf of vice chancellors of various tertiary institutions.
While speaking, he said: "People only want to engage if it doesn't suit them. We have a crisis in higher education. As long as there is intolerance, we won't be able to solve anything." He said all these over chants of : "Habib must go!"
Habib stepped down and the convention agreed that vice-chancellors will not address the sitting.
Afriforum has pulled out of the talks.
While Higher education minister Dr Blade Nzimande tried to confront the education convention, students aligned with EFF stormed the stage.
This did not go down well with Young Communist League students who wanted to project their leader.
The students clashed in front of the stage while Nzimande was protected by his bodyguards.
The fracas escalated into fist fights and chair throwing. Students then took the fight outside where ANC aligned students chased after the EFF student command with belt buckles.
Justice Dikgang Moseneke announced the postponment of the higher education convention because the conveners could not guarantee the safety of attendees.
Moseneke said: " The minister who was our guest, who we invited had to leave in circumstances that were unacceptable."
He said changing higher education sector cannot happen without Nzimande and vices chancellors.
"This was a deeply sad day but dialogue continues. There can't be heroism in shouting and screaming," Moseneke said.
Tebogo.monama@inl.co.za