The university said on Thursday his words had been misinterpreted.

Kgwadi had on Tuesday met with students from the Reform Puk transformation group to listen to their concerns.

AfriForum Youth spokesperson Ian Cameron claimed Kgwadi had told students: “I encourage you to fight”, after students apparently demanded the removal of Afrikaans and a statue from the Potchefstroom campus.

They lodged an incitement of public violence complaint at Brooklyn police station in Pretoria on Wednesday.

The case was apparently being transferred to the Potchefstroom police station.

“By encouraging students to fight, he adds to the polarisation of different cultural groups on campus. His political agenda causes racial tension,” Cameron said.

In a statement the university said Kgwadi, the Potchefstroom campus rector and other officials met with the student group to promote ongoing dialogue.

“Professor Kgwadi had indeed suggested students should ‘fight’ in the context of fighting for justice,” it said.

“To interpret this as encouragement to commit violence is therefore extremely irresponsible.”

It said Kgwadi did not give preference to the group and believed all groups across the spectrum should be heard.

He encouraged students “to take a stand, to talk to each other, to try and understand each other and to ‘fight’ for justice”.

In response, Cameron said he believed the vice chancellor needed to start choosing his words carefully.