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UFS Protest Protocol puts safety first

17 February 2023 | Story Valentino Ndaba | Photo UFS Photo Archive

Protetst — The UFS Protest Protocol offers the university community safety guidelines during protests, including dos and don’ts for staff and students who are not demonstrating; acceptable and unacceptable behaviour during protests, and how to handle protests in accordance with standard operating procedures

The University of the Free State (UFS) recognises the right of students and staff members to peacefully assemble, picket, and protest in a way that does not interfere with the rights of other members of the university community. At the same time, the safety of all UFS staff and students is one of our top priorities.

The UFS Protest Protocol offers the university community safety guidelines during protests, including dos and don’ts for staff and students who are not demonstrating; acceptable and unacceptable behaviour during protests, and how to handle protests in accordance with standard operating procedures.

As a university, we continuously strive to create an inclusive environment where opposing views are accommodated, and the constitutional right to protest is respected. According to the UFS’s Vision 130 strategy, one of the key principles that drive the institution is social justice: “The university recognises that diversity goes together with a commitment to inclusivity, equity, and social justice. We therefore also commit to creating a culture of care and a vibrant space for, and acceptance of, constructive and critical engagement; where a diversity of often contested ideas and perspectives is not just tolerated, but also fostered through discussion and subsequent implementation.”

What should one do if a protest occurs?

1. Communicate: The university must be informed if it is to respond appropriately to protest action. If you are aware of ongoing or impending protest action, immediately inform the relevant 24/7 Protection Services operational centre.

2. Be informed: In order to respond appropriately to protest action (for your own protection and the protection of others), you need to know about impending or ongoing protests and stay informed on how it unfolds, via official UFS communication platforms and ConnectYard. The latter provides as-it-happens crisis alert notifications via WhatsApp.

3. Keep away: If at all possible, keep away from the area of the protest action. Try to keep others for whom you are responsible away as well.

4. Help others: If someone appears to be in danger or distress, intervene only if you are sure that it is safe for you to do so, and proceed calmly, without provoking protesters. Seek treatment for injuries. Should you or someone else suffer injuries of any kind during protest action, seek treatment from emergency services or Kovsie Health. Contact the Protection Services operational centres for any medical emergencies, so that they can activate the ambulance services according to available protocols.

5. Report: Report all incidents and damages to Protection Services at the numbers provided. It is important that non-protesting staff and students submit statements to the UFS investigating officers for the internal disciplinary process, to prevent similar occurrences in future. Be specific when providing a statement, to enable the investigating team to identify those involved in violent disruptions. Culprits cannot be brought to book if no evidence is available to link them to specific incidents. All reasonable steps will be taken to protect non-protesting staff and students testifying in disciplinary proceedings.

For advice on what to do and what not to do, read the UFS Protest Guidelines booklet. You can also watch the video below for more information:

Bloemfontein Campus

Protection Services: +27 51 401 2911 | +27 51 401 2634 | 0800 204 682

Ambulance: +27 80 005 1051 | 10177

Social worker: +27 73 182 3048

Kovsie Health: +27 51 401 2603

Qwaqwa Campus

Protection Services: +27 58 718 5460 | +27 58 718 5175 | +27 58 718 5360

Ambulance: 10177

Social Worker: +27 58 718 5090 | +27 58 718 5091

Kovsie Health: +27 58 718 5210

South Campus

Protection Services: +27 51 505 1217

Ambulance: +27 80 005 1051 | 10177

Social worker: +27 73 182 3048

Kovsie Health: +27 51 401 2603

News Archive

Dr Khotso Mokhele joins ranks of distinguished Chancellors

2010-11-21

Attending the inauguration ceremony are, from the left: Mr Pule Makgoe, MEC for Education in the Free State and member of the UFS Council; Judge Ian van der Merwe, Chairperson of the UFS Council; Dr Khotso Mokhele, newly inaugurated Chancellor of the UFS; and Prof. Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the UFS.
Photo: Dries Myburgh

Dr Khotso Mokhele joined the ranks of distinguished Chancellors of the University of the Free State (UFS) with his inauguration as the new Chancellor of the institution at a ceremony on Friday, 19 November 2010.

The lustrous ceremony took place on the Main Campus in Bloemfontein and was attended by hundreds of guests from all over South Africa.

Dr Mokhele said in his speech: “I am excited to have been invited by the UFS to join its community at the time when it is attempting to reinvent itself into an institution that will be counted amongst those that will shape the local, regional, national will, and by so doing, contribute to the shaping of an African will.”

Dr Mokhele follows in the footsteps of Dr Franklin Sonn, former Ambassador of South Africa in the United States of America and receiver of many awards, acknowledgements, and honorary doctorates, who retired earlier this year. Dr Sonn was preceded by Ms Winkie Direko, former premier of the Free State.

His acceptance of the role of Chancellor is a great honour for the UFS.

According to Prof. Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the UFS, it is a proud moment to welcome someone from the Province as the Chancellor of this university. With his strong academic values and deep sense of human compassion, Dr Mokhele is one of but a few uncompromising leaders. He is also an inspiring, determined pioneer and a role model to all our students.

Few have done as much to guide the development of science in South Africa since democracy in 1994 as Dr Mokhele. His vision and actions as a senior science manager have been guided by his deep conviction that for a truly democratic society to emerge in South Africa all people must be empowered to be its architects and must have unhindered access to those careers upon which our economy is built.

Dr Khotso Mokhele was born and raised in Bloemfontein. After matriculating from the Moroka High School he went on to study at Fort Hare, where he graduated with a B.Sc. in Agriculture, winning the Massey-Ferguson award for the best student in that field. As a recipient of the prestigious Fulbright-Hays Scholarship, he entered the University of California in Davis where he took a M.Sc. and a Ph.D. degree, both in Microbiology. He was awarded post-doctoral fellowships at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland, and at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.

Dr Mokhele returned to South Africa in 1987, set on becoming a top-class academic and researcher. He held lecturing posts at the Universities of Fort Hare (1987-1989) and Cape Town (1990-1992). In 1992 he joined the Foundation for Research Development (FRD) as one of its Vice-Presidents. He succeeded to its presidency in 1996 and then from 1999 to 2006 became the first President of the National Research Foundation (NRF). He successfully merged the FRD and the Centre for Science Development of the Human Sciences Research Council. Under his visionary leadership the NRF has come to play a pivotal role in the development agenda of the country. He was also instrumental in the establishment of the South African Academy of Sciences serving as its founder president (1996-1998).

Dr Khotso Mokhele's contribution to science in South Africa has received wide recognition locally and abroad. He has received nine honorary doctorates. He was made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour by the President of France in recognition of his personal efforts in strengthening scientific ties between France and South Africa, and was appointed a director of the Salzburg Seminar, an institution focused on global change, and subsequently a member of its Council of Senior Fellows.

He also serves on the boards of major companies such as Implats, Adcock Ingram and Afrox.

Complete speech (Pdf)

Media Release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Director: Strategic Communication (actg)
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl@ufs.ac.za19 November 2010

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