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Early B and Simple Stories invigorate #Mokete stage

05 September 2019 | Story Rulanzen Martin | Photo Early B Music and Simple Stories

Izoshisa iKovsie Multilingual Mokete

“I have a voice.” | “Ke na le lentsoe.” | “Ek het ‘n stem.” | “Nginezwi."

See programme for more detail

Join in the festivities by listening to the live broadcast of the Mokete on KovsieFM and catching it live on http://livestream.ufs.ac.za

In support of its commitment to promoting a multilingual, multicultural environment for staff, students, and other stakeholders, the University of the Free State hosted the first Kovsies Multilingual Mokete on the Bloemfontein Campus today.

“The Mokete served as an institutional initiative aimed at promoting a coordinated and inclusive celebration of the regional languages and cultures included in the UFS Language Policy. The university wants everybody to feel that they belong, and that they can be proud of their culture and language. We also want them to know that every person counts; that everyone has a voice and that they can contribute to building a culture which inspires excellence,” says Dr Engela van Staden, Vice-Rector: Academic and Chairperson of the UFS Language Committee.

#IHaveAVoice #KeNaLeLenstoe #EkHetnStem #Nginezwi

During the festival, staff and students from all three UFS campuses participating expressed this celebration in the form of visual arts, poetry, storytelling, drama, music, and song in the dominant languages spoken at the UFS, which is English, Afrikaans, Sesotho, isiZulu, and South African Sign Language.

For the duration of the Mokete, the Red Square in front of the Main Building, was renamed the ‘Mokete Square’. The Scaena Theatre will play host to a visual-arts exhibition, a drama production called Dogg's Hamlet, as well as a screening of The Visitor.

Well-known performers Early B (pictured) and Simple Stories,(pictured at below) entertained the crowd as the closing acts on the Mokete Main Stage. The student choirs from our South and Qwaqwa Campuses also performed.

There was multicultural food stalls which sold typical cultural cuisine, from sheep’s head and bunny chow to koeksisters.

The KovsieGear stall, sold Multilingual Mokete-branded merchandise, inlcuding a special ‘doek’ to commemorate the Mokete.

According to Dr Van Staden, the UFS is committed to creating a multilingual environment and hopes to make the Kovsies Multilingual Mokete an annual event which will rotate between the three campuses. “We are proud to host an event of this nature and believe that it will be one of the flagship events on the university’s calendar. The Mokete will furthermore present and strengthen the university’s positioning in relation to multilingualism,” says Dr Van Staden.

The Mokete is furthermore presented in support of the ITP’s work streams on Teaching and Learning, Student and Staff Experience, and the Multi-Campus Model.

Kovsies Mokete wa Dipuo tse Ngata - ho tla tjha lehong ho sale molora!

Sheba lenaneo bakeng sa dintlha tse batsi

Kopana le rona meketeng ka ho kena ho live broadcast ya Mokete ho KovsieFM le ho le utlwa le phela http://livestream.ufs.ac.za

Ho bontsha tshehetso ya yona boitlamong le boitlhapanyong ba ho kgothaletsa tikoloho e nang le dipuo tse ngata tse fapaneng, le ditso tse ngaka tse fapaneng bakeng sa moifo, baithuti le batho ba bang ba nang le seabo, Yunivesithi ya Freistata e tla baamohedi ba mokete wa pele wa Kovsies Multilingual Mokete mona Khemphaseng ya Bloemfontein mohla la 18 Lwetse 2019.

“Mokete o sebebetsa jwalo ka boikitlaetso ba setheo sa thuto ka sepheo sa ho kgothaletsa mokete o hokahanyang le o kenyeletsang dipuo tsa sebaka sena le ditso tse kenyeletswang Molaong wa Tsamaiso kapa yona Pholisi ya Dipuo ya UFS (UFS Language Policy). Yunivesithi e lakatsa hore motho e mong le e mong a be le boikutlo ba hore o lapeng, le hore ba ka ba motlotlo ka setso le puo ya bona. Re boela re lakatsa hore ba tsebe hore motho e mong le e mong o bohlokwa; hore motho e mong le e mong o na le lentswe le hore e mong le e mong a ka ba le tlatsetso ho hahuweng ha setso se kgothaletsang boipabolo le mesebetsi e tswileng matsoho,” ho bolela jwalo Ngaka Engela van Staden, Motlatsi wa Morektoro: Akhademiki le Modulasetulo wa Komiti ya Dipuo ya UFS.

#IHaveAVoice #KeNaLeLenstoe #EkHetnStem #Nginezwi

Nakong ya mokete ona, moifo le baithuti ho tswa dikhamphaseng kaofela tse tharo tsa UFS ba tla kgona ho hlahisa powaneng mokete ona ka sebopeho sa mesebetsi ya bonono ba dintho tse bonahalang, mesebetsi e bopilweng ka letsopa, ho pheta dipale, diterama, le ka mmino - ka dipuo tse ka sehloohong tsa UFS e leng Senyesemane, SeAfrikaanse, Sesotho, SeZulu le ka Puo ya Matsoho ya Afrika Borwa (South African Sign Language).

Bakeng sa nako yohle ya Mokete, “Red Square” e kapele ho mohaho o Moholo, e tla rehwa lebitso jwalo ka “Mokete Square.” Scaena Theatre e tla ba moamohedi wa dipontsho tsa mesebetsi ya bonono, tlhahiso ya terama e bitswang Dogg’s Hamlet hammoho le pontsho ya filimi ya The Visitor.

Kopana le rona le #FillUptheMoketeSquare le motshwantshisi ya tsejwang haholo wa Early B le Simple Stories jwalo ka ha ba tle be ba thabisa matshwele a tshwantshisa jwalo ka diketsahalo tse dihelang dikgala tsa Mokete Main Stage ka 19:00. Dihlopha tsa dibini (choirs) tsa baithuti ho tswa Dikhamphaseng tsa rona tsa South le QwaQwa Campuses le tsona tse tla bina

Ho tla boetse ho be le mabenkele a manyenyane a dijo tsa ditso tse fapaneng tse rekisang dijo tse rothisang mathe tsa setso tse jwalo ka hlooho ya Nku, di-Bunny chow and di-Koeksisters mme ha ho potang hore sena se tla thabisa batho ba habo rona ba ratang dijo.

Lebenkeleng la KovsieGear ho tla ba le dintho tsa meetso yohle tse ka rekwang tsa Multilingual Mokete hammoho le tuku e kgethehileng bakeng sa ho keteka Mokete, kahoo o ka sebedisa mokotlwane wa difoto o tla fumaneha lebenkleng bakeng sa ho nka difoto ka diaparo tse ntlehadi tsa setso. Kamora moo, o ka uplouda difoto tsa hao o sebedisa #KovsiesMultilingualMokete le ho tag ho UFS at @UFSWeb ho Twitter, @ufs/uv ho Instagram. Difoto tse hlano tse nang le ditjhebahalo tse ipabolang di tla fumana meputso e itseng e hlollang.

Ho ya ka Ngaka van Staden, UFS e itlamme hore e tla bopa tikoloho e amohelang dipuo tse ngata tse fapaneng mme e tshepa ho etsa hore Kovsies Multilingual Mokete e tla ba ketsahalo ya selemo le selemo mme e tla potolohiswa dikhamphaseng tse tharo. “Re motlotlo haholo ho ba baamohedi ba ketsahalo ya sebopeho sena mme re dumela hore e tla ba e nnete ya diketsahalo tseo re tla di thoholetsa le ho di rolela kgaebana diketsahalong tsa alamanaka ya yunivesithi. Mokete o tla boela o hlahise le ho matlafatsa boemo ba yunivesithi mabapi le dipuo tse ngata le tse fapaneng,” ho boletse jwalo Ngaka van Staden.

Kovsies Multilingual Mokete ya pele ho ya dipakane tse fuperweng hara ITP Teaching and Learning, Student and Staff Experience, le di-Multi-Campus Model work streams.

Dintlha mabapi le Multilingual Mokete ke tse latelang:

Letsatsi: La 18 Lwetse 2019
Nako: 11:00-21:00
Sebaka: Mokete Square (Red Square), UFS Bloemfontein Campus
Moaparo: Diaparo tsa setso

Dipotso:

Ikopanye le ufsmokete@ufs.ac.za bakeng sa tlhahisoleseding e eketsehileng.

Kovsie Veeltalige Mokete gaan kookwater wees

Sien hier program vir meer besonderhede

Neem aan die feestelikhede deel deur by die regstreekse uitsending van die Mokete op KovsieFM in te skakel en regstreeks daarna te luister by http://livestream.ufs.ac.za

Ter ondersteuning van sy verbintenis tot die bevordering van ’n veeltalige, multikulturele omgewing vir personeel, studente en ander belanghebbendes, gaan die Universiteit van die Vrystaat die eerste Kovsie Veeltalige Mokete op18 September 2019 op die Bloemfontein-kampus aanbied.

“Die mokete dien as ’n institusionele inisiatief wat daarop gemik is om ’n gekoördineerde en inklusiewe viering van die streekstale en -kulture wat by die UV-taalbeleid ingesluit is, te bevorder. Die universiteit wil hê almal moet voel dat hulle behoort en dat hulle trots kan wees op hulle kultuur en taal. Ons wil ook hê hulle moet weet dat elke persoon tel; dat almal ’n stem het en dat hulle kan bydra om ’n kultuur te bou wat uitnemendheid inspireer,” sê dr Engela van Staden, Viserektor: Akademies en Voorsitter van die UV se Taalkomitee.

#IHaveAVoice #KeNaLeLenstoe #EkHetnStem #Nginezwi

Tydens die fees sal personeel en studente van al drie UV-kampusse wat aan die fees deelneem, uiting aan hierdie viering kan gee in die vorm van visuele kuns, poësie, storievertelling, drama, musiek en sang in die dominante tale wat by die UV gepraat word, naamlik Engels, Afrikaans, Suid-Sotho, Zoeloe en Suid-Afrikaanse Gebaretaal.

Die Rooiplein voor die Hoofgebou sal vir die duur van die mokete herdoop word na die ‘Moketeplein’. Die Scaena-teater sal gasheer wees vir ’n visuele kunsuitstalling, ’n dramaproduksie genaamd Dogg’s Hamlet, asook ’n vertoning van The Visitor.

Sluit by ons aan en #VuldieMoketePlein saam met die bekende kunstenaars Early B en Simple Stories; hulle sal die skare vermaak as die afsluitingsvertonings op die Mokete-hoofverhoog om 19:00. Die studentekore van ons Suid- en Qwaqwa-kampus sal ook optree.

Daar sal ook multikulturele kosstalletjies wees wat tipiese kulturele disse verkoop – van skaapkop en kerriebrood (bunny chow) tot koeksisters; dit sal kosliefhebbers beslis beïndruk.

By die KovsieGear-stalletjie sal daar Veeltalige Mokete-handelsmerkartikels beskikbaar wees, asook ’n spesiale doek ter herdenking van die mokete. Maak dus gebruik van die fotokiosk wat by die stalletjie beskikbaar sal wees om jouself in jou beste kulturele drag op film vas te lê. Daarna kan jy jou foto deur middel van #KovsiesVeeltaligeMokete oplaai en die UV by @UFSWeb op Twitter en @ufs/uv op Instagram merk. Die vyf foto’s met die meeste ‘hou van’ sal ongelooflike pryse ontvang.

Volgens dr Van Staden is die UV daartoe verbind om ’n veeltalige omgewing te skep en hoop om van die Kovsie Veeltalige Mokete ’n jaarlikse geleentheid te maak wat afwisselend op die drie UV-kampusse gehou sal word. “Ons is trots om ’n geleentheid van hierdie aard aan te bied en glo dat dit een van die vlagskip-geleenthede op die Universiteit se kalender sal wees. Die mokete sal verder ook die universiteit se posisie in verhouding tot veeltaligheid stel en dit versterk,” sê dr Van Staden.

Die Mokete is ooreenkomstig aan die doelwitte soos vervat in die ITP se werkstrome vir Onderrig en Leer, Studente- en Personeelervaring en Multikampusmodel.

Die besonderhede van die Veeltalige Mokete is as volg:

Datum: 18 September 2019
Tyd: 11:00-21:00
Plek: Moketeplein (Rooiplein), UV Bloemfontein-kampus
Drag: Tradisionele drag

Navrae:

Kontak ufsmokete@ufs.ac.za vir meer inligting.

Izoshisa iKovsie Multilingual Mokete!

Ngeminye imininingwane bheka uhlelo

Yiba yingxenye yemigubho ngokuthi ubambe iqhaza uma sekusakazwa bukhoma iMokete kwiKovsieFM noma uyibuke bukhoma kwi-http://livestream.ufs.ac.za

Ukweseka isibophezelo sethu sokukhuthaza izilimi namasiko ehlukahlukene, kubasebenzi, abafundi nabo bonke ababambe iqhaza, iNyuvesi yaseFree State izosingatha ifestivali ye-Kovsies Multilingual Mokete ezokuba kwikhampasi yaseBloemfontein mhla ka 18 kuMandulo 2019.

“IMokete wuhlelo oludidiyelwe ngesineke lwenyuvesi oluhlose ukukhuthaza ukugujwa kwezilimi namasiko ehlukahlukene abalulwe kwiNqubomgomo Yezilimi ye-UFS. Inyuvesi ifuna ukuba wonke umuntu ezizwe esekhaya, nokuthi abantu bangaziqhenya ngamasiko nezilimi zabo. Siyafuna futhi bazi ukuthi wonke umuntu unezwi nokuthi bangabamba iqhaza ekwakheni isiko elikhuthaza ukuphumelela,” kusho uDkt Engela van Staden, oyiPhini lika-Rector kwa-Academic aphinde abe nguSihlalo weKomidi Lezilimi e-UFS.

#IHaveAVoice #KeNaLeLenstoe #EkHetnStem #Nginezwi

Ngesikhathi sefestivali, abasebenzi nabafundi kuwona womathathu amakhampasi ase-UFS abazobamba iqhaza, bazokwazi ukuba yingxenye yemigubho ngokukhangisa ngezithombe nemidwebo, izinkondlo, ukuxoxa izindaba, imidlalo yeshashalazi, umculo, namahubo ngezilimi ezidumile ezikhulunywa e-UFS, okuyisiNgisi, isiBhunu, IsiSuthu, IsiZulu, noLimi Lwezandla LwaseNingizimu Afrika.

Ngesikhathi kuqhubeka iMokete, iRed Square engaphambi kweMain Building izobizwa nge “Mokete Square”. I-Scaena Theatre izosingatha imibukiso yobuciko, umdlalo weshashalazi obizwa nge-Dog’s Hamlet, kanjalo nokukhonjiswa kwe-The Visitor.

Hlanganyela kanye nathi kwi #FillUptheMoketeSquare okuzobe kukhona amaciko adumile i-Early B neSimple Stories, njengoba bezobe bejabulisa izihlwele uma sebevala umcimbi esiteji esikhulu seMokete ngo-19h00. Amakwaya abafundi ase-South Campus naseQwaqwa Campus nawo azobe eqhulula amanoni.

Kuzophinde kube namatafula okudla kwesintu okwehlukene azobe edayisa izibiliboco zesintu, kusukela kwinhloko yegusha, ibhanatshawe kuya kwi-koeksisters, lokhu kuzobajabulisa kakhulu abathandi bezibiliboco.

Etafuleni leKovsieGear, kuzobe kunezimpahla ezibhalwe ngezilimi ezahlukene ezizobe zidayiswa, okubalwa kuzo amaduku akhethekile okubungaza iMokete. Ngakho-ke thatha ithuba lokuthatha isithombe endaweni yokuthatha izithombe lapho etafuleni ukhombise ngemvunulo yakho enhle. Ngemuva kwalokho, ungafaka izithombe zakho usebenzisa i-#KovsiesMultilingualMokete, bese uxhuma i-UFS kwi@UFSWeb kwi-Twitter, ne-@ufs/uv kwi- Instagram. Izithombe eziyisihlanu ezithandwe kakhulu zizothola imiklomelo.

Ngokusho kukaDkt Van Staden, i-UFS izibophezele ukwakha umphakathi lapho izilimi ezahlukene zemukelekile kanti wethemba ukuthi iKovsies Multilingual Mokete izokuba ngumcimbi waminyaka yonke ozobanjelwa kuwona womathathu amakhampasi ngokushintshana. “Siyaziqhenya ngokusingatha umcimbi walolu hlobo futhi sikholwa wukuthi uzokuba ngomunye wemicimbi esizigqajayo ngayo ekhalendeni lemicimbi yenyuvesi. IMokete izophinde iveze futhi iqinise umbono wenyuvesi uma kukhulunywa ngobuliminingi,” kusho uDkt Van Staden.

Imininingwane yeMultilingual Mokete imi kanje:

Usuku: 18 kuMandulo 2019
Isikhathi: 11:00-21:00
Indawo: Mokete Square (Red Square), UFS Bloemfontein Campus
Ukugqoka: Imvunulo yesintu

Imibuzo:
Ngolunye ulwazi xhumana ne: ufsmokete@ufs.ac.za

The first activity of the Multilingual Mokete kicked off with a canvas painting which will later become part of a bigger murial which will be on display in the Scaena

News Archive

State of our campuses

2017-10-30

STATEMENT OF THE RECTOR AND VICE-CHANCELLOR

The protests and disruptions of academic activities by students or groups of students on the Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa Campuses of the University of the Free State (UFS) since 18 October 2017 are taking place at a critical time in the academic calendar when students are writing the end-of-year examinations.

Not only does this place strain on students preparing for examinations, it also places strain on their families, and the entire university community.

I have spent most of my time since 18 October 2017 engaging with a large number of the university’s stakeholders, including concerned parents, staff, union representatives, alumni, the media, and various interest groups to share our plans and approach towards the protests and disruptions, and to ensure our stakeholders of the executive management’s commitment towards ensuring the stability of the campuses, and the uninterrupted completion of the 2017 academic year. Similar engagements by the executive management with the Student Representative Councils (SRCs) of the Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa Campuses have also taken place, and will continue.

During the past week, the disruption of academic activities, damage to and destroying of university property, criminal behaviour, and the violation of the rights of staff and students have occurred. Such behaviour is condemned in the strongest terms by the executive management, and directly contravenes the interdict granted to the UFS by the High Court of South Africa’s Free State Division on 22 February 2017. Although the university supports peaceful protests, I appeal to student leaders and the students who are in support of the protests, to continually prioritise the completion of the exams and the academic year. The executive management will keep on supporting peaceful protests of students about matters that are important to them, and obviously important to the university. However, we do not support the kind of disruptions and protests that transpired since 18 October 2017.

Last week, we were also made aware of alleged excessive use of force and assault of students by private security companies hired by the UFS at both the Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa Campuses. These allegations are currently being investigated. The executive management condemns in the strongest terms any misuse of force by private security.

The situation on the Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa Campuses is being closely monitored, and the necessary contingency plans remain in place to ensure the safety of staff and students, and to safeguard university property.

The executive management understands and shares the concerns of academic and support service staff about the completion of the academic year. We also understand the emotional anxiety that student protests and defiance generates among staff and students. I want to thank the university community for their support, as well as members of the institutional task team for their remarkable work under difficult and trying circumstances.

There is continuity between the student protests that started last year in October and what we are facing now. The unifying theme is students’ experience of financial exclusion from higher education. A contributing factor is the fact that President Jacob Zuma has not yet released the Heher Commission’s Report on the feasibility of fee-free higher education and training, which was handed to him at the end of August 2017.

The latest developments indicate that the President might release the report by the end of the coming week. This will hopefully provide more certainty on the issue of free higher education, and could therefore contribute to the stability on campuses at South African universities. The UFS, as a collective, will actively engage with the recommendations in the report once it is available.

The executive will continue to engage with the SRC, not only to strengthen the relationship between these bodies, but to constructively address various domestic challenges on our campuses.

Prof FW Petersen
Rector and Vice-Chancellor
University of the Free State

UPDATE: 27 October 2017 at 15:03: Concession for students who experienced trauma on Friday 20 October 2017

As part of an agreement between the UFS Executive Management and the Bloemfontein Campus SRC on Monday 23 October 2017, it was agreed that there would be a process in place to allow students to write an additional exam if they experienced physical, emotional or psychological trauma relating to events that took place on the Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa Campuses on Friday 20 October 2017.

The names and student numbers of students were sent to management. In total, 1 236 student numbers were received, of which only 1 152 students were matched and qualified for an additional exam in place of the main examination that took place in the period 23 October to 28 October 2017.

Note: Only students with predicates qualify for the above concession.

Students will be notified via email by Wednesday 1 November 2017 if their applications have been successful. Should you have any enquiries regarding the notification or need to follow up on the process, you may contact the Student Academic Services Examination Division at addexam@ufs.ac.za. Lecturers will be notified via the Dean of the relevant faculty.

The students approved via this process, will also be eligible to apply for an ad hoc exam. This process will be managed by the Student Academic Services Examination Division.

Definitions:
· Main Examination: The first sitting of the final examination
· Additional Examination: The second sitting of the final examination. For the above students, this will be their first opportunity.
· Ad hoc Examination: A once-off concession for the above students, which allows them to apply for a second opportunity.
· Special Examination: A last opportunity given to students who have one module outstanding to complete their qualification. This examination is managed by the relevant ‘home’ of the outstanding module.

UPDATE: 26 October 2017 at 15:00: The exams on the campuses are continuing and no disruptions have been experienced since it started on Monday 23 October 2017.

A fire broke out on the Rag Farm of the University of the Free State’s (UFS) Bloemfontein Campus during the early hours of Thursday 26 October 2017, damaging the western side of the building. Arson is expected and the incident is being investigated by the South African Police Service (SAPS). On the same campus, two students were arrested in the early hours of Thursday morning for attempts to light a fire next to the Main Building. The incident is also being investigated by the SAPS.

On the Qwaqwa Campus, the situation is calm and no incidents were reported since yesterday morning.

The situation on the Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa Campuses is being closely monitored, and the necessary contingency plans remain in place to ensure the continuation of the exams, the safety of staff and students, and the safeguarding of university property.

UPDATE: 25 October 2017 at 14:26: Exams at the University of the Free State (UFS) are continuing today without disruptions on the campuses, after commencing on Monday 23 October 2017.

Early this morning, six students were arrested on the Qwaqwa Campus for contravening the Interdict. One of the two students who was injured and hospitalised the evening of 22 October 2017 on the Qwaqwa Campus during an incident between students, security officers, and members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) when a firearm was allegedly released, has been discharged. The second student is still in hospital and recovering well. The private security company involved in this incident has since been suspended and the incident is being investigated.

The necessary safety contingency plans remain in place on the campuses, and continued discussions/conversations between the executive management and the SRCs are taking place. Notices of intention to suspend will be issued to students who performed acts of a criminal nature or who violated the rights of staff and students.

UPDATE: 24 October 2017 at 13:36: Situation on the UFS Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa Campuses on 24 October 2017

The exams on the campuses of the University of the Free State (UFS) started yesterday (23 October 2017) without disruptions. The situation on the Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa Campuses is calm today and no disruptions have occurred at exam venues. The necessary safety contingency plans remain in place.

UPDATE: 23 October 2017 at 14:54: Agreement between the UFS executive management and the Bloemfontein Campus SRC on Monday 23 October 2017

During a meeting between the executive management of the University of the Free State (UFS) and the Bloemfontein Campus Student Representative Council (SRC) this morning, the following was agreed:

1.       Students who feel traumatised by events that took place on the Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa Campuses on Friday 20 October 2017 and do not think that they are fit to write exams, must provide their names and student numbers to the respective SRCs.

2.       In Bloemfontein, email should be sent to Asive Dlanjwa at DlanjwaA@ufs.ac.za; TyidaS@ufs.ac.za or submitted at Steve Biko House, Office 54. In Qwaqwa, email should be sent or submitted to the SRC President, Masopha Hlalele, at 2013037573@ufs4life.ac.za. These students will be excused from the exams taking place between 23 October and 28 October 2017, and will be given a chance to write additional exams. These exams will be regarded as the first opportunity.

3.       Students injured on the Bloemfontein Campus as a consequence of the events of Friday 20 October, should contact Dr WP Wahl from Student Affairs (to arrange for medical assistance).

4.       Students who wrote exams today (23 October 2017), but who feel that they have done so despite being traumatised and want to withdraw from the examination list, must indicate their names, student numbers, and the exam that they wrote. These students are also eligible for additional exams in relation to the exams set for the week of 23 October to 28 October.
5.       A window period of 48 hours (ending at 15:00 on Wednesday 25 October 2017) will be given to provide the names and details of students who experienced trauma to come forward for these arrangements to take place.

The following was also confirmed again during the meeting:

•         Students in Armentum and Beyers Naudé residences, which were singled out by the SRC as particularly affected by the events, would be offered counselling and medical assistance.

•         The 36 students jailed on Friday 20 October 2017, as well as those students residing in Armentum and Beyers Naudé who were traumatised or hurt by the events, will be starting exams a week later and will be given additional examinations for the modules they had to write during the week of 23 October to 28 October 2017.

•         Additional examination will be granted to all members of the SRC.

•         Any other student who was affected by Friday’s events and who is in need of counselling or medical attention, must indicate this to the SRC or the Office of the Dean of Students.

Please note the procedure for accessing counselling services: On the Bloemfontein Campus, students must go to the Student Counselling Offices, Health and Counselling Building (above Kovsie Health), to fill in the necessary forms and schedule emergency appointments.

UPDATE: 23 October 2017 at 07:28: Summary of events on the Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa Campuses since Wednesday 18 October 2017

Disruption of academic activities at the UFS started on the morning of Wednesday 18 October 2017 when a group of students blocked the main entrance to the Qwaqwa Campus and handed a memorandum to the campus management. Academic activities on the Qwaqwa Campus were interrupted, and resumed the next day. On the Bloemfontein Campus, disruption of some academic activities occurred after a meeting of students convened by the Student Representative Council (SRC). Members of the executive management subsequently met with the Bloemfontein Campus SRC, and a memorandum was handed to the executive management on 19 October 2017.

On the evening of 19 October 2017, seven students were arrested for arson on the Qwaqwa Campus, and four students were arrested on the Bloemfontein Campus on the morning of 20 October 2017 for contravening the Interdict. In the late afternoon of 20 October 2017, 36 students were arrested on the Bloemfontein Campus for contravening the Interdict. The arrest of this group of students occurred after the executive management responded to the memorandum of the SRC earlier in the day; the reply to the memorandum was rejected by the SRC and the students present.

Mindful of the Interdict and aware of the fact that these 36 students needed to prepare for exams, the university attempted to secure their release. This was not possible, given that the legal processing of these students by the South African Police Service (SAPS) had to continue. Students were finally released on bail on Sunday 22 October 2017 and will appear in court on Monday 23 October 2017.

Early on Saturday morning, the executive management met with the SRC and was made aware of incidents that took place at some residences, and the manner in which the private security company proceeded on Friday afternoon. The executive management explicitly stated that the approach taken by the security company was not in agreement with the UFS’s stand on student protest. At this meeting, it was agreed that the UFS would terminate its contract with the private security company and that it would initiate an independent external investigation into Friday’s events as soon as possible.

It was further agreed with the SRC that students in Armentum and Beyers Naudé, residences which were singled out by the SRC as particularly affected by the events, would be offered counselling and medical assistance.

It was finally agreed that the SRC, the 36 students jailed on Friday, as well as those students residing in Armentum and Beyers Naudé who were traumatised or hurt by the events, will be starting exams a week later and will be given special examinations for the modules they had to write during the week of 23 October 2017.

The students included in the categories indicated above, are the only students who had been granted special examinations. Any other student intending to request a special examination must follow the normal procedure.

Occurrences of fake news and miscommunication are taking place on social media – especially about the exams. The university’s official communication platforms (i.e. Newsflash, State of our campuses email, the website, Facebook, Twitter, Blackboard, SMS, and the ufs4life student email) are the only ones that carry official messages.
Exams start on all campuses on Monday 23 October 2017 at 08:00 and will continue as planned.

UPDATE: 22 October 2017 at 19:37: EXPLANATORY NOTE ON THE INTERDICT ISSUED BY THE FREE STATE HIGH COURT ON 22 FEBRUARY 2017

Since Wednesday 18 October 2017, disruptions and protests have occurred on and around the Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa Campuses of the University of the Free State (UFS), caused by students or groups of students.

On 22 February 2017, the High Court of South Africa, Free State Division, granted an Interdict against four respondents, of which the fourth respondent includes all individuals or legal persons acting in direct or indirect support of the activities to which this matter applies.

In terms of the Interdict, no registered student of the UFS, or legal persona may:

1.     Do anything which directly or indirectly obstructs, inhibits, prevents, disrupts, delays or interferes with the academic functioning of the UFS. This includes registration of students, any functions or events taking place at the UFS, tests, examinations and the processes related to academic activities, administrative services and normal student activities.
2.     Block, barricade or obstruct roads or entrances to the UFS. Similarly, roads on the UFS campus or entrances to buildings or venues on the UFS campus may not be blocked, obstructed or barricaded.
3.     Damage or destroy any property (moveable or immovable) on the UFS campus, irrespective of who the owners are.
4.     Molest, assault, threaten or intimidate UFS staff members, students, contractors and officials.
5.     Incite, taunt, instigate, prompt or encourage any other individuals or students to act in any way that violates this Interdict.

Please note that any student(s) who who contravenes the Interdict, will immediately be provisionally suspended.

The Sheriff of the Court and/or the South African Police Services are authorised to remove and expel from the UFS property and premises any student(s) who fails to comply with the provisions of the Interdict.

This Interdict is current and valid for all registered UFS students and legal persona operating at the university.

UPDATE: 22 October 2017 at 12:42: Exams will go ahead on the Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa Campuses on 23 October 2017
The exams will go ahead on the Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa Campuses on Monday 23 October 2017, as per the exam timetable. All academic and administrative activities are also continuing on both campuses tomorrow.

The situation on the two campuses is calm today, and no disruptions occurred during the course of last night.

The university crisis team – including members of the executive management and Protection Services – is on alert and has worked with the South African Police Service (SAPS) during the weekend to ensure stability on the two campuses during the exams. Security measures are in place for the exams and the situation on both campuses is monitored closely.

Occurrences of fake news and miscommunication are taking place on social media – especially about the exams. The university’s official communication platforms (i.e. Newsflash, State of our campuses email, the website, Facebook, Twitter, Blackboard, SMS, and the ufs4life student email) are the only ones that carry official messages.

Exams will proceed on the South Campus as scheduled.

UPDATE: 21 October 2017 at 12:45
The situation on the Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa Campuses of the University of the Free State (UFS) is calm today, and no disruptions occurred during the course of last night. Security measures are in place and the situation on both campuses is monitored closely.

Thirty six students were arrested on the Bloemfontein Campus yesterday at late afternoon, after a group of students clashed with members of the private security company and the South African Police Service (SAPS).

The executive management met with the Bloemfontein Campus Student Representative Council (SRC) this morning to discuss the arrest of students, as well as the disruptions of academic activities that happened on campus since Wednesday.

UPDATE: 20 October 2017 at 12:05: Situation on the Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa Campuses on 20 October 2017

Academic and administrative activities are continuing on the Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa Campuses today.

Last night, six students were arrested for arson on the Qwaqwa Campus. The South African Police Services (SAPS) and Campus Security were on the campus and are still monitoring the situation. On the Bloemfontein Campus, four students were arrested this morning for contravening the Interdict by causing disruptions at the Computer Labs and UFS Sasol Library. The SAPS is also deployed on the Bloemfontein Campus and are closely monitoring the situation, together with the university’s security team.

The executive management will meet with students on the Bloemfontein Campus at midday to provide feedback on the memorandum handed to them by the Student Representative Council (SRC) yesterday.

The safety of both staff and students remains a priority to the executive management. Staff and students on both campuses are requested to stay calm and to focus on the coming examinations and completion of the academic programme for the year. Measures are put in place to ensure that the exams will go ahead as planned. The university crisis team – including members of the executive management and Protection Services – is on alert and are working to stabilise the situation on the two campuses.

The continuation of the university’s academic programme is a serious matter to the executive management and the disruptive behaviour of some of our students will not be tolerated. Students who are identified while taking part in these incidents will be disciplined according to the university’s student disciplinary procedures.

Video recordings and/or photos of these incidents can be shared with Protection Services by contacting Noko Masalesa and Elise Saayman at masalesan@ufs.ac.za | saaymane@ufs.ac.za or +27 51 401 3436 | +27 51 401 9706.

Occurrences of fake news and miscommunication are taking place on social media – especially about the coming exams. The university’s official communication platforms (i.e. Newsflash, State of our campuses email, the website, Facebook, Twitter, Blackboard, SMS, and the ufs4life student email) are the only ones that carry official messages.

UPDATE: 19 October 2017 at 19:07: All academic activities on the UFS Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa Campuses will continue as normal on Friday 20 October 2017.

The necessary steps will be taken to ensure that outstanding classes and tests continue unhindered. Communication about the rescheduling of classes and/or tests affected by the disruptions on the Bloemfontein Campus will be sent via email tomorrow. Students on the Qwaqwa Campus must please check with the respective lecturers and/or information on Blackboard for details on rescheduled tests.

UPDATE: 19 October 2017 at 10:50: Situation on the Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa Campuses on 19 October 2017

During a meeting between the executive management of the University of the Free State (UFS) and the Student Representative Council (SRC) of the Bloemfontein Campus on 17 October 2017, a basic percentage point of 8% increase in tuition fees for 2018 was used as discussion point. Rumours on the social media of a different basic percentage point in relation to tuition fees for 2018 are untrue.

No decision has been made about the increase in tuition fees for 2018. Tuition-fee increases must be approved by the UFS Council, and therefore no decision about an increase in tuition fees for 2018 has been made yet.

Members of the executive management met with the Bloemfontein Campus SRC yesterday and it was agreed that a memorandum will be handed over today (midday); on the Qwaqwa Campus, a memorandum was handed to the campus management yesterday.

The Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Francis Petersen, has subsequently been in discussion with the President of the Bloemfontein Campus Student Representative Council, Asive Dlanjwa, regarding yesterday’s disruption of academic activities on the campus. The campus management of the Qwaqwa Campus are in a similar conversation with the campus SRC, and discussions will continue today.

The situation on the Bloemfontein Campus remains under control and is being closely monitored, with academic activities on the campus continuing as normal today. The situation on the Qwaqwa Campus is calm today and academic activities, including tests, are continuing as scheduled. Staff and students on both campuses are requested to stay calm and to focus on the completion of the academic programme for the year.

Please note that the university’s official communication platforms (i.e. Newsflash, State of our campuses email, the website, Facebook, Twitter, Blackboard, SMS, and the ufs4life student email) are the only ones that carry official messages.

Released by:
Lacea Loader (Director: Communication and Brand Management)
Telephone: +27 51 401 2584 | +27 83 645 2454
Email: news@ufs.ac.za | loaderl@ufs.ac.za
Fax: +27 51 444 6393

UPDATE: Disruption of academic activities on the Bloemfontein Campus (19 October 2017 at 12:25 PM)

Disruption of academic activities on the Qwaqwa and Bloemfontein Campuses (18 October 2017)

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