University buildings in Qwaqwa were damaged during protests. Photos: Tladi Moloi
The University of the Free State’s Qwaqwa campus was closed on Monday evening after protesting students blocked roads, broke windows and set fire to some buildings.
University management suspended classes and instructed students in on-campus residences to vacate within 24 hours for their safety.
Free State SAPS spokesperson Mmako Mophiring said police were investigating a case of intentional damage to property.
The protests, which started last week, followed the university’s announcement that it would suspend provisional registration from 2026. The provisional registration allowed students who could not pay the fee to register immediately.
Students say this will exclude poor and working-class students who struggle to meet financial needs at the start of the academic year.
Mcebo Hlatsi, from the Student Representative Council (SRC), said students had been protesting peacefully until police and bouncers started “brutally beating students”.
University spokesperson Lacea Loader confirmed that academic activities on campus were suspended on Tuesday.
She said that under the new financial system, “academically qualified students will be fully registered once their fees or funding have been confirmed”.
Students funded by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) would also be registered. “This will provide greater certainty about registration status and allow for the phasing out of provisional registration. The UFS is the only university in South Africa that allows students to register with outstanding fees,” she said.
Loader said the university strongly condemned the violent and destructive behavior during the protests and was assessing the extent of damage to the Qwaqwa campus.
Students took taxis after university management ordered all students to leave the Qwaqwa campus.
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By Tladi Moloi
groundup.org.za
