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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

Odeion School of Music presents Melodies From Paris on 6 May 2016
2016-05-03

Description: Melodies From Paris  Tags: Melodies From Paris

On 6 May 2016, the French soprano Laetitia Grimaldi and pianist Ammiel Bushakevitz offer a programme of Romantic French songs, presented in the style of a Parisian salon concert from the belle époque, at the Bloemfontein Campus. From the heights of Marcel Proust to the decadence of the Moulin Rouge, the belle époque (circa 1871-1914) was a time when culture flourished more than ever in Paris. The salons of Paris became places where poets, painters, and composers would meet to share their art.

Items on the performance list include: Henri Duparc:  L'Invitation au voyage; Soupir, Chanson triste,  Franz Liszt:  Jeux d'eaux à la villa d'Este,  Gabriel Fauré:  Le secret; Clair de lune; Romance sans paroles, Op. 17 No. 3, Jean-Philippe Rameau:  Rigaudon, from Dardanus (trans. Godowsky), Reynaldo Hahn:  À Chloris; Quand je fut pris au pavillon, Charles Gounod:  Le premier jour de mai; Venise; Viens! Les gazons sont verts,  Georges Bizet:  Chansons-mélodies: Extase, Joseph Cantaloube:  Baïlèro, from Chants d'Auvergne, Charles-Valentin Alkan:  Recueil de chants, Op. 38 No. 1, Léo Delibes: Chant de l'almée; Les filles de Cadix.

Details of event:

Date: 6 May 2016
Time: 19:30
Venue: Odeion, Bloemfontein Campus
 
Tickets are available from Computicket at R130 (adults), R90 (pensioners, students and learners), R70 (UFS staff), and R50 (group bookings of 10+). For more information, contact Ninette Pretorius on +27(0)51 401 2504.

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