University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) students who were arrested on Tuesday morning will be released on a warning before the end of day, according to the Black Lawyers Association in Gauteng and Economic Freedom Fighters student leader Vuyani Pambo.

Students were arrested following a clash with police outside the university, after they tried to block entrances to the institution.

"Basically, we've worked to get processes going, to get them charged and processed so that they can be released today," said Pambo outside the holding cells at Hillbrow police station.

The Black Lawyers Association said it was assisting students.

"We've heard the cry from students and thought it important to come out and assist, really," said Theo Mapheto.

He also explained that proof of registration was required to show that all those arrested were students.

Officers handling the matter declined to confirm if, indeed, the 30 students would be released on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, in a statement on the Wits Twitter account, the institution said it was deploying police at its Braamfontein and Parktown campuses.

It said that 200 students had been reported to be roving around from campus to campus, intimidating students and disrupting classes.

"We are deploying security and police to follow the group and we are monitoring the situation on camera from the joint operating centre. Students will be arrested if they do not comply with police orders," the institution warned.

The university said that they were requesting that students and lecturers leave the venue and only resume classes once the group had moved on.