South African university says vice-chancellor was assaulted

Protesting students run for cover as riot police officers fire rubber bullets at the Vaal University of Technology in Vanderbijlpark, South Africa, on Friday, Oct. 14, 2016. The campus has been the scene of clashes between police and students demonstrating for free university education. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) (The Associated Press)

A protesting student is pushed away by riot police officers at the Vaal University of Technology in Vanderbijlpark, South Africa, on Friday, Oct. 14, 2016. The campus has been the scene of clashes between police and students demonstrating for free university education. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) (The Associated Press)

A masked man participates during a march, in downtown Johannesburg Friday, Oct. 14, 2016. About 1,000 people participated in a peaceful march to the Chamber of Mines as part of the fees must fall protest, for free university education, attempting to highlight the mining industry's role in the country's economy. (AP Photo/Denis Farrell) (The Associated Press)

A South African university says its vice-chancellor was assaulted by protesters after he met with them to discuss their demands for free university education.

The University of Cape Town said protesters encircled and pushed Vice-Chancellor Max Price outside a campus building Friday. The university says Price took two punches to the body as he tried to walk away, and police used stun grenades to disperse the protesters.

Separately, police fired rubber bullets to disperse protesters at the Vanderbijlpark campus of the Vaal University of Technology, and demonstrators marched in Johannesburg to the Chamber of Mines to demand corporate funding for education.

The government says it will cover 2017 fee increases for poor university students. Protesters, however, say the plan is insufficient and demand the gradual implementation of free university education.