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28 May 2021 | Story Anita Lombard | Photo Supplied
Anita Lombard (left) and Dr Adre le Roux, Senior Lecturer in the School of Education Studies, were among the first people over 60 years to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
A journey is always part of the destination and Drake once said: “Sometimes it’s the journey that teaches you a lot about your destination.”
My Sesotho name is Lerato, meaning ‘love’, but on our UFS campuses I am better known as Anita Lombard from UVPERSU – of which I have been an integral part since 1999 when I was appointed as the first full-time CEO of the trade union. 

On 5 March 2020, the lives of all South Africans changed dramatically. COVID-19 entered our country through a person carrying an invisible virus monster, which was by then already raging through the world, and we all had to adapt urgently to a ‘new normal’.

It was in our hands to adapt to the changing environment and not allow COVID-19 to wipe us out to become extinct like the dinosaurs that were wiped out by an asteroid many years ago. 

The one moment, we, as a very privileged family, were spending a glorious long weekend in Cape Town in February 2020, marching with the community and world-famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma in support of the oppressed and displaced District Six people, enjoying the beauty of the mountain and the sea, and drinking wine on the sunny terrace of a beautiful wine farm – and the next moment, we were back home and caught up in a Level five lockdown.

Living through a pandemic

At first, I was so overwhelmed by what was happening around me, that I didn’t grasp the reality and the seriousness of my own journey that lay ahead.   This journey through the COVID-19 pandemic would teach me a lot about myself, other people, and my eventual COVID-19 destination dream, which became reality on a chair in a vaccination venue at the Universitas Hospital in Bloemfontein in the Free State on Monday 24 May 2021.

I can write a book about how I initially coped with protecting and shielding myself from the virus monster by working from home, which I, as a self-acknowledged and disciplined workaholic, came to enjoy very much – doing all my shopping online, which opened up a whole new world for me, and re-arranging my entire social life to cope with circumstances and still maintain a balance to keep my sanity.  I very soon realised that I would never become a successful motivational speaker, since it’s easy to motivate people who have the same resources as I, as a privileged person.  It has become a serious challenge and a life goal to work out ways in which to help others who are not so privileged, and I would love to share it with you when there is an opportunity to do so.  I believe it should be an ongoing process to give to those who are suffering in many ways.

I will probably write proper memoirs one day, but for now I just want to share my vaccination journey, its history, and my innermost fears, emotions, and desires with you, without becoming a scientific dictionary.  This is the story of an ordinary human being who wanted to stay alive and healthy amid the onslaught of a monster.

Vaccination in the news

I have always enjoyed reading about topics of the day, but all of a sudden, these topics became negative facts and narratives about a killer virus’ path of destruction and heartbreak.  During a time of panic and despondency, a small light appeared in a dark tunnel – scientists and big pharmaceutical companies started working on a vaccine for this novel killer virus.

At the same time, fake news and horror stories about the virus and vaccines started dominating news headlines.  Yes, at times I was very bitter, since – as an animal and wildlife activist – I will never ever be able to understand, identify with, or accept so-called ‘wet markets’ where innocent and defenceless animals suffer beyond words at the hands of humans.  Even after more than a year of the pandemic that rocked the world, the real origin of this specific virus remains largely a mystery. Could it be that nature is taking revenge? But that is a debate for another day.

All the time, I carried on reading widely and attending as many information webinars as possible, both nationally and internationally.   I stuck to reliable sources and avoided dodgy videos and alien stories that were too far-fetched to be true!   I tried very hard to stay calm and positive, to believe in my common sense, and rely on my logic and sound scientific arguments.  Because of this attitude, I could easily distinguish between fake news and facts.  I must say, it helps a lot to be part of an excellent institution like the University of the Free State, where I can mingle with top medical and other scientists and take serious note of their research and guidance.  Our HR department delivers world-class information and support, and I will always be very proud of my engagement with them during these difficult times.  I commend Ms Susan van Jaarsveld and her team, Sister Riana Johnson, Head of Kovsie Health, and her team, Protection Services and all the other essential workers, support staff, and academics on our three campuses.   Your hard work and sacrifices are highly appreciated.  We are dependent on students as our clients and the ship had to be kept afloat.
UVPERSU is a very unique trade union, and its values and goals still help to keep me on track.  Our UVPERSU team’s total commitment to combat the pandemic and to protect our members’ jobs and to secure a safe workplace, is the best motivation one can dream of to stay positive and work together to slay this virus monster.

Vaccination breakthrough 

At last, the vaccination breakthrough came, and with it, hope that many lives can be saved! I also lost family members, friends, and colleagues who succumbed to COVID-19, and this had an effect on my own mental stability and emotional well-being. At times it felt like a child’s seesaw ride – one moment up in the clouds and the next moment you bump hard onto the ground.  At the same time, I had to support UVPERSU members and other friends and family who needed my support and advice. Bob Marley once said that you never know how strong you are, until being strong is the only choice you have. An unknown person said that being strong doesn’t mean that you will never get hurt, but it means that even when you get hurt, you won’t let it defeat you.  I could relate to people who felt alone and lonesome and the thought that I won’t allow to be defeated and that I could support other people, kept me strong.  Here I must say that I am also very lucky to have a wonderful support system of friends, family, and colleagues, and technology became a very close best friend!  If you do Skype or Teams, you don’t have to wear a mask and you don’t need to be scared of contracting COVID! The same goes for WhatsApp video calls!

The vaccination experiments eventually developed into real action, with people all over the world being vaccinated. My family and friends in Europe, the US, UK, and Cyprus shared the good news with me, while at the same time sympathising with me, since in South Africa, it was not always clear what would happen and when and how vaccinations will happen, who will be the first to receive vaccinations, and if there will be enough vaccines.  I visited the Seychelles in 2019, and when I recently read how many people of the total population on this faraway island paradise have already been vaccinated, I wanted to cry.   After the AstraZeneca disaster, I really started to doubt if we will ever be vaccinated. I was fast losing hope that we would be vaccinated any time soon. It didn’t help much to read about predictions stating that it would take many years to vaccinate the entire SA population!

My faith, my wonderful and fulfilling UVPERSU job, exercising regularly, and playing my piano and keyboard have helped me a lot to stay hopeful and positive.  Since my early childhood, I have always been scared of going to the doctor and of injections!  But as I grew up and realised that travelling to weird and wonderful places would involve vaccinations, I overcame most of my fears, and injections became friends to protect me against visits to doctors! So here I was, too eager for words to be vaccinated!  After many of my colleagues and friends in the health sector were vaccinated, I couldn’t wait to feel that needle in my arm!  In the end, I actually didn’t really feel anything, since the nurse who administered my vaccine was clearly a pro! 

I read every day about vaccination phases and rollouts and sometimes got very frustrated with the slow progress!  I registered three times on the EVDS system, and I also registered on the Discovery system!  I must admit – a total overkill, but I wanted to make sure I won’t be skipped!   Imagine my excitement when the UFS HR department and the Free State’s own vaccinations hero, Dr Nicholas Pearce, started explaining in a meeting that my dream could soon become a reality!  I never doubted the scientific composition of the vaccine or believed any ridiculous claim about DNA changes, etc.  I just wanted some protection against a killer, which already claimed too many lives.

Then the wait began for the magical SMS with an invitation and a code … to this day, I haven’t received that invitation, but thanks to Dr Nicholas Pearce and his initiatives and drives, I received my vaccination on Monday 24 May 2021, after I almost lost hope during the previous weekend!   On my way to the vaccination site, I experienced a whirlwind of emotions – I didn’t know whether I should laugh or cry!  But there’s another story to the story!  Age!  For the first time in my life, I was glad that I was over 60 and not 35, as we always joke in our family! 

Getting the shot

The set-up at the Universitas Hospital vaccination site was absolutely fantastic and very organised.  We can really be very proud of Dr Pearce and his team, and I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart for what they are doing for us here in our small, but COVID-ridden Free State province.  We shall overcome!

I feel guilty that I am so privileged and that I got my vaccination before other younger people with more serious comorbidities than my mild asthma.  I just hope and pray that they will get their vaccinations soon.   It is so important to stay safe and to sacrifice, among other things, social gatherings, until you can get your vaccination.   Wear that mask, sanitise, and keep your social distance.

Through my posts on Facebook, I could help many people and refer them to Universitas Hospital.  I could also adjure them to get vaccinated and allay fears created by fake news.  I didn’t become an alien; I didn’t grow a monkey tail and I don’t have magnetic powers in my injected arm!  I am still the Anita from UVPERSU that many of you have known for years!  What has changed, is that I now have antibodies and other ways and means to help my body fight a killer disease. 

My dream to be vaccinated, came true … I now hope and pray that my fellow Africans and people all over the globe can be vaccinated so that we can slay this monster that are ruining lives, jobs, freedom, happiness, and many other things that we have so often taken for granted.

Get vaccinated, and so we will achieve together as UVPERSU’s magical slogan urges us to do. Achieve together – Re fihlella mmoho

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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