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09 February 2022 | Story Lacea Loader

The University of the Free State UFS) is aware of media reports on 8 and 9 February 2022 about challenges that students are facing related to off-campus accommodation and in particular an incident that took place on the Bloemfontein Campus in the early hours of 8 February 2022 when a group of students arrived late evening at Protection Services and requested emergency accommodation.

It is untrue that the university did not provide emergency accommodation to the group of students, and we wish to confirm that accommodation was indeed offered in two on-campus residences. However, the offer to provide such accommodation was not taken up by the Bloemfontein Campus Student Representative Council (CSRC) on behalf of the group. During Tuesday morning, university staff managed to obtain accommodation for the group in an off-campus emergency accommodation facility, to which they were taken by shuttle.

Several measures are in place to ensure the successful management of the accommodation process in consultation with and in agreement with various stakeholders. When the need arises, the university arranges emergency off-campus accommodation for students on all three campuses. Where a student cannot afford to pay for emergency accommodation, the university has measures in place, which include the provision of daily transport in the form of a shuttle service to the emergency accommodation and back to the campus – specifically during the registration period.

In addition, an Emergency Accommodation Committee, on which the CSRC sits, meets weekly. The CSRC is part of the committee’s decisions to accommodate the needs of students related to emergency accommodation.

News Archive

Former students Cobus Muller and Charl Blom withdraw claims against UFS
2015-12-02

Former students Cobus Muller and Charl Blom without any explanation withdrew their claims for contractual damages against the University of the Free State (UFS) in the amount of R1 million each, last week. 

This comes after a letter of demand was addressed to Prof Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the UFS, on 5 March 2015 in which Muller and Blom claimed R 5 150 000.00   each in compensation from the UFS. The claim was rejected. Thereafter Muller and Blom issued a summons in which they claimed R1 million each for alleged contractual damages suffered.

Muller and Blom have tendered the full wasted costs as a result of the claims that were withdrawn.  The former students intend to proceed with the remaining claims.  These claims will likewise be opposed by the UFS.

The university management does not intend commenting on the withdrawal in the media.   The futile attempts by Muller and Blom to claim what was not due to them, speaks for itself.

Related links:

http://www.ufs.ac.za/templates/news-archive-item?news=6394 (3 July 2015)
http://www.ufs.ac.za/templates/news-archive-item?news=6274 (5 March 2015)
http://www.ufs.ac.za/templates/news-archive-item?news=4116 (9 September 2014)
http://www.ufs.ac.za/templates/news-archive-item?news=3924 (22 February 2014)

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