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UFS academic programme to resume face-to-face on Monday 7 August 2023

05 August 2023 | Story Lacea Loader

All academic activities on the campuses of the University of the Free State (UFS) will resume face-to-face on Monday 7 August 2023.

This decision by the university’s executive management comes after campus-wide protests on 2 August 2023, and the subsequent decision to continue the academic programme online until 4 August 2023.

The university can confirm that a large number of UFS-registered students funded by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) who have been excluded from payment, have received their allowances on Friday 4 August 2023. The university is aware that a small number of students have not yet onboarded successfully with eZaga – an online digital banking service tasked with disbursing direct payments to NSFAS beneficiaries. These students have been requested to urgently onboard successfully with eZaga in order to receive their allowances.

On a sectoral level, the university would also like to confirm that a statement has been issued by Universities South Africa (USAf) in which NSFAS and the Department of Higher Education, Science and Innovation are, among others, requested to urgently resolve the matter of the direct payment of allowances to students. The UFS fully supports the statement and is hopeful that an amicable and urgent solution to the matter can be found.

Protection Services and the South African Police Service remain on high alert and are monitoring the situation on the campuses closely. The necessary security measures are in place to ensure the safety of students and staff.

Prof Francis Petersen, Vice-Chancellor and Principal, will address our staff and students on 8 August 2023 about last week’s protest action. Please monitor the communication platforms for more information on this important engagement session.

A message from Prof Francis Petersen, Vice-Chancellor and Principal, to staff and students about last week’s protest was also shared on 3 August 2023.

News Archive

State of our campuses: UFS campuses closed until Friday 23 September 2016

2016-09-20

After careful assessment of the situation on the Bloemfontein, Qwaqwa, and South Campuses of the University of the Free State (UFS), and engagement with the Student Representative Council (SRC), the senior leadership decided this morning to close all its campuses until Friday 23 September 2016.

All academic and administrative services on the three campuses have therefore been suspended and will resume again on Monday 26 September 2016. This means that no academic and administrative services will be available and no lectures and/or tests will take place on the three campuses for the rest of the week.

This decision was made after all academic activities were suspended on the Bloemfontein Campus yesterday afternoon because of a growing unease and disruption of some academic activities by groups of students, resulting from yesterday morning’s announcement on tuition fees by the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande. Although the university management is in favour of peaceful protests, it condemns these disruptions, especially as it took place during an important time in the academic calendar.

The decision to suspend academic and administrative services for the rest of this week was taken with caution, as it will ensure the safety of staff, students, and university property. It will also assist the university management in maintaining stability on the campuses.

Adjustments will be made to the teaching calendar, and students are requested to obtain this information from their respective faculties. No student will be disadvantaged in terms of tests or assignments as a result of the unfortunate closure of the university for the rest of the week.

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