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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

Silence, secrets and the unsaid
2014-05-14

Since the 1960s, survivors and perpetrators of violence and mass atrocities have been urged to talk about their experiences. Increasingly, any reluctance to recall and give testimony of what happened is framed as pathological – a symptom of trauma.

Exploring the theme of ‘Silence after Violence’, the Institute for Reconciliation and Social Justice will host a colloquium on our Bloemfontein Campus. Local and international academics will examine the role of silence, secrets and the unsaid in the aftermath of mass atrocities.

The details of this two-day colloquium:

Date: 22 – 23 May
Time: Thursday: 08:00 – 17:30 and Friday: 08:00 – 15:00
Place: Centenary Complex

Students, staff and the public is welcome to attend any of the sessions. For more details about the line-up, open the programme here, or contact the Institute for Reconciliation and Social Justice directly at +27(0)51 401 9808.

This colloquium is the next event hosted by the Institute for Reconciliation and Social Justice in a year-long celebration of our country’s 20 years of democracy. The event is organised in collaboration with the University of Vermont, Carolyn & Leonard Miller Center for Holocaust Studies.

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