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02 August 2023

Sporadic disruptions of academic activities occurred yesterday and this morning on the Bloemfontein, South and Qwaqwa Campuses.

In recent weeks, the university management has made various attempts to keep the campuses open for face-to-face learning and teaching amid challenges experienced with the disbursement of students’ National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) allowances through eZaga, an online digital banking service, tasked with dispersing direct payments to NSFAS beneficiaries.

These attempts include, but are not limited to, the attendance of meetings by UFS representatives with NSFAS, arranged by Universities South Africa (USAf); meetings with NSFAS attended by Prof Francis Petersen, Vice-Chancellor and Principal; constant engagements with NSFAS by the university’s Financial Aid Office; a meeting with the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande, to discuss the matter – this was postponed to a later date; constant engagements with the Institutional Student Representative Council (ISRC) on matters relating to NSFAS, etc. These attempts are, however, not acceptable to our students.

To minimise the risk to the academic programme, as well as the fact that this is a sector-wide challenge, the academic programme, (activities, classes, and assignments) will continue online as far as possible from 2 to 4 August 2023. Further information about students’ online academic programme will be communicated by the respective faculties.

The university management would like to thank our academic staff for their commitment during this time, and for ensuring that the academic programme continues through online delivery.

The university is not closed; all other activities will continue as normal.  All campuses are also accessible. The situation on the campuses is being monitored closely and the necessary security measures are in place to ensure the safety of students and staff.

The university’s protocol during protests provides guidance to students and staff on how to act during protests.

Students and staff will be updated on the situation.

News Archive

Enough is enough, says students
2013-02-15

A student writes the name of a friend who has been a victim of rape, on the T-shirt worn by Mody Motholo – Former SRC interim president.
Photo: Jerry Mokoroane
14 February 2013



I am morally tied to stop rape”, students say

Kovsie student and former SRC Interim President Mody Motholo is creating awareness about rape with a campaign called “I am morally tied to stop rape”.

As part of the campaign Mody chained herself to a tree on the Bloemfontein Campus to show how many of our students and women are living in bondage as a result of this type of crime. Students walking past the campaign station interacted with Mody, who informed them about the rape issues affecting students across our country and how we can join hands to stop the increasing cases of rape, both reported and not reported.

Students could also write down the names of victims on her T-shirt, which will later be used as an indication of this terrible crime in our country. “The first name written on this T-shirt was that of the latest reported rape case, namely Anene Booysen who was brutally gang raped.

"Within an hour this T-shirt was covered in names, which was an indication to me of the seriousness of the problems some students who are victims of rape are struggling with around our campus,” said Mody.

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