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29 March 2021
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1. Its support of and confidence in the leadership of the Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS, Prof Francis Petersen and his team, and duly recognises the efforts and results achieved at the University during the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the current nationwide student protest on the payment of student debt.
2. In this context, the Council also distances itself and deplores the statements made by the leadership of the
Institutional Student Representative Council (ISRC), on national television on Monday 15 March 2021, as it pertained to the demand for the immediate resignation of the Rector and Vice-Chancellor, and the statements pertaining to the Chancellor, Prof Bonang Mohale, and Chairperson of the Council, Dr Willem Louw. The Council notes that Mr Katleho Lechoo, President of the ISRC subsequently retracted the utterances.
3. The Council strongly affirms its confidence in the relationship between the leadership of the UFS and the ISRC and expresses its appreciation for the University leadership’s commitment to continuously engage with students about matters of concern to them. The Council furthermore encourages positive and constructive engagement by the ISRC with the University leadership, as this contributes to shared-understanding of the challenges faced by the South African higher education sector and the governance of the UFS.
Temporary closure of Qwaqwa campus
2007-03-01
Issued by: Dr Ezekiël Moraka, Vice-Rector: Student Affairs
The management of the University of the Free State (UFS) has decided to temporarily close its Qwaqwa Campus in the Eastern Free State out of concern for the safety of staff and students.
The Qwaqwa Campus will close today, 1 March 2007, until Monday 12 March 2007. Students who live in residences on the campus will be allowed to return on Sunday 11 March 2007. Only registered students will be allowed back.
This decision has been taken in the light of the damage to university property (including the dining hall and kitchens) on Tuesday 27 February 2007 by a small group of students and the continuing risk of further damage to property or injury to persons.
A small group of students were protesting against the appointment of a catering company to provide meals to students. However, the management wishes to state that the appointment of the company took place by means of an open and inclusive tendering process which also involved the Student Representative Council (SRC) of the campus.
The UFS remains committed to the use of existing channels of communication with students in order to resolve any problems that may occur, but will not accept violence as a means of finding solutions.
Media release
Issued by: Anton Fisher
Director: Strategic Communication
Cell: 072 207 8334
1 March 2007