The six-hour hostage drama at the University of the Witwatersrand appeared to be over at 4.10pm on Wednesday when police were seen leading the handcuffed hostage-taker out of the senate building.
The suspended student took a female university employee hostage earlier on Wednesday in an apparent bid to be re-instated at the institution.
Education Minister Kader Asmal arrived at the university to negotiate with the student. African National Congress Women's League president Winnie Madikizela-Mandela was also on the scene to provide support.
The student took the woman hostage on Wednesday morning in an office in the senate building on the campus in central Johannesburg. The man had apparently tied his hostage's hands with a computer cable.
Superintendent Chris Wilken said the student, who was studying for a BA degree, had been suspended for non-payment of study fees and had apparently taken the woman hostage in a desperate effort to be re-instated at the institution.
The student had apparently also asked the university to write off his tuition fee debt. - Sapa