Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items

Disruption of academic activities on the UFS Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa Campuses on 12 February 2025

12 February 2025 | Story Lacea Loader

On 12 February 2025, disruption of academic activities occurred on the Bloemfontein Campus of the University of the Free State (UFS); this followed the disruptions that occurred on 11 February 2025. On the Qwaqwa Campus, attempts to disrupt academic activities also occurred on 12 February 2024.

A memorandum of demands from the Institutional Student Representative Council (ISRC) was handed over to the university management on 11 February 2025, to which management responded; these demands are related to registration and funding.

Financial concessions have been granted to students on two occasions so far this year to enable them to register. On 10 February 2025, the university granted follow-up concessions.

Furthermore, the institution’s Financial Working Group (FWG) – which includes representatives from the Institutional Student Representative Council (ISRC) – met regularly to determine how it could best assist students to register, taking into consideration the financial constraints of the university.

On the Bloemfontein Campus, 15 students were arrested on 12 February 2025 for transgression of the interdict; internal disciplinary processes are being instituted.

The university’s Protection Services has activated its protest management security escalation plan in accordance with the UFS Protest Management Policy; the situation on the campuses is being closely monitored.

All classes are continuing as normal, and no classes have been suspended.

It is important to note the NSFAS-related progress made up until now:

NSFAS funding has been confirmed and allocated to 25 551 students.
22 246 of these students have already been successfully registered for the academic year.
NSFAS allowances were paid to 14 303 registered students on 3 February 2025.
On 17 February 2025, interim allowances will be paid to 7 943 students who were not registered at the time of the first round of payments.

Financial concessions have been granted to students during two occasions so far this year. On 10 February 2025, the university granted the following follow-up concessions:

1. NSFAS-funded students

Criteria:

NSFAS funding for 2025 must be confirmed and reflected on the acknowledgement of debt (AOD) or registration verification document.
Historic debt may not exceed R35 000.

Concessions:

No payment is required.
Students will be eligible for full registration.

Criteria:

NSFAS funding for 2025 must be confirmed and reflected on the acknowledgement of debt (AOD) or registration verification document.
Historic debt exceeding R35 000 but not exceeding R50 000.

Concessions:

No payment is required.
Students will be eligible for provisional registration. Provisional registration applications must be submitted, and all other terms and conditions will apply.

2. Returning self-paying South African students:

Criteria:

Historic debt must not exceed R35 000.
Must sign an acknowledgment of debt (AOD).

Concessions:

No payment is required.
Students will be eligible for provisional registration. Provisional registration applications must be submitted, and all other terms and conditions will apply.

3. Final-year students:

Students with an average mark of above 60% were assisted with Monitoring bursaries.
2025 final-year students with an average mark of between 50% and 60% will be assisted with the following concessions.

Criteria:

Final-year students with a pass rate of between 50 and 60% and with outstanding fees up to a maximum of R60 000 to register provisionally.

Concessions:

No payment is required.
Students must complete a provisional registration application and attach an AOD, covering historic debt plus the first payment required for 2025 registration.

4. Postgraduate students

The Department of Finance is in contact with the Centre for Postgraduate Support to fast-track funding confirmations.
Postgraduate students who have studied at other institutions and wish to register at the UFS must contact Student Finance for possible assistance with registration.

News Archive

Protest actions planned for 12-14 March 2008

2008-03-13

Three protest actions will take place on the Main Campus of the University of the Free State (UFS) in Bloemfontein this week.

Although the interim court interdict granted to the UFS on 6 March 2008 is still in force, permission for the three protests was granted by the Mangaung Local Municipality and the court, in the presence of the university lawyer. Strict conditions have been set for these protest actions.

The UFS management respects the right to peaceful protest and also shares the sentiment of the protesters regarding the reprehensible Reitz video. However, strict conditions have been set for these protest actions as students are writing tests and the normal academic activities should not be disrupted.

Already the first picket protest took place today, Wednesday, 12 March 2008, by about 300 Satawu and Nehawu members. This was not a march and no memorandum was handed over.

On Thursday, 13 March 2008, Nehawu will again picket in front of the Main Building from 13:00 to 14:00. This event must be peaceful. This too is not a march and no memorandum will be handed over.

On Friday, 14 March 2008, a march of Cosatu and Nehawu will take place, starting in the city centre. The march will enter through the Nelson Mandela Drive gate and will enter the campus grounds.

However, it will be limited to the incoming lane of Chancellors Avenue from the Main Gate to the crossing with Alumni Avenue (in front of the Odeion building). Speeches will be made and a memorandum will be handed over.

It is expected that the march will reach the campus at approximately 10:00 and from then the Nelson Mandela Gate to the UFS will be closed for all traffic. The march must end by 14:00. The marchers will return to the city centre and may cause a traffic problem in Nelson Mandela Drive.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) and the UFS’s Protection Services Division will monitor all these actions. Staff, students and visitors to the campus are kindly requested to use alternative gates to the Nelson Mandela entrance on Friday. Academic activities will continue as normal this week.

Media Release
Issued by: Anton Fisher
Director: Strategic Communication
Tel: 051 401 3422
Cell: 072 207 8334
E-mail: fishera.stg@ufs.ac.za
12 March 2008

Back

Economic and Management Sciences

Education

Health Sciences

The Humanities

Law

Natural and Agricultural Sciences

Theology and Religion

Open Distance Learning

Business School

We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept