A group of students were on Wednesday protesting in front of the main building of the University of Free State (UFS) Bloemfontein campus.
But the university said the marchers were not enrolled as students at the institution.
Provincial South African Student Congress (Sasco) chairperson Manyene Lesapo said they want the removal of UFS rector Jonathan Jansen.
“He has burned political structures on campus.”
Lesapo said they were unhappy with the upcoming Student Representative Council (SRC) election that was due to take place at the end of the month. He said there was no political activity allowed on campus.
This year candidates for the SRC will go through a selection process and they would stand alone for a position on the SRC. These candidates are allowed no backing from political formations.
The UFS posted details of the illegal march on its Facebook page, saying the protest was by people mainly from outside the campus who were not students at the university.
Students gathered in front of the main building and emptied rubbish bins.
The protest was watched by policemen. — Sapa