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05 April 2022 | Story Lacea Loader
Qwaqwa Campus

The preliminary finding of the urgent investigation into the fire on the Qwaqwa Campus of the University of the Free State (UFS) on the evening of Monday 4 April 2022, indicates that the two buildings were intentionally set alight. This was established by the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the university’s Protection Services this morning.

Since the outbreak of the fire, one person – who is a registered student – has been arrested by SAPS, and a process is underway to identify more suspects. The UFS will institute the necessary disciplinary action against suspects who are registered students. Similarly, criminal charges will also be instituted.

The buildings, which housed the clinic and a computer laboratory, were almost completely destroyed, with damage to both buildings estimated at R35 million.

The university management condemns the destructive behaviour of the students and condemns criminal behaviour such as this in the strongest terms. “The Qwaqwa Campus, as well as the entire university community, are shocked by this devastating and irresponsible act – especially after the campus experienced violent protest action this year, which significantly affected the academic programme,” said Prof Francis Petersen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS.

The academic programme on the Qwaqwa Campus continues, mostly online for this week, and students will be informed by their faculties about the revised schedule, as well as arrangements regarding tests and assessments scheduled for this week on the campus.

The campus remains open; the university's Protection Services is on high alert and is monitoring the situation on campus closely.

It is alleged that students were unhappy about the payment of allowances they are due to receive from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) in April 2022. To alleviate this, the UFS has so far this year offered students allowances for food and books amounting to more than R71 million, while they are waiting for their NSFAS subsidies to be released. 


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


News Archive

FSSO 12 Cellists & FSSO Big Band, 11 June 2009
2009-05-29

FSSO VIRTUOSI
Thursday 11 June 2009
Odeion
19:30


FSSO 12 Cellists & FSSO Big Band

The next FSSO concert is an interesting and unusual concert with twelve cellists of the FSSO playing in the first half of the programme and the FSSO Big Band after interval.

The recently appointed cellist of the Odeion String Quartet, Anmari van der Westhuizen, is the leader of the FSSO 12 Cellists. They will be playing Bachianas brasileiras no. 1 (Villa-Lobos), an arrangement by JC Jacobs of the Largo from Dvorak’s Symphonie No. 9 (From the New World) and Allan Stephenson’ s Souvenir de Sevilla.

After interval the FSSO Big Band conducted by Paul Loep van Zuilenburg, will play well-known items like American Patrol, Haarlem Nocturne (for those of us who can remember so far back – this was the theme music of the popular Mike Hammer series), Birdland and the theme from Pink Panther.

ADMISSION:
R90 (adults)
R70 ((pensioners, students and learners)
R50 for group bookings of 10 or more
Tickets available at Computicket (at all Shoprite / Checkers shops, Mimosa Mall information desk) and at the doors.
Computicket www.computicket.com


ENQUIRIES:
Ella Kotze, tel. 051 – 401 2342

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