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UFS management and student leadership discussions yield positive results toward sustainable financial solutions

16 October 2025 | Story Lacea Loader

The University of the Free State (UFS) Executive Committee (Exco), Institutional Representative Council (ISRC), and Campus Student Representative Councils (CSRCs) of the three campuses met on 15 October 2025 and reached an agreement regarding the implementation of the phasing out of provisional registration.

The discussions were held in light of the decision made by the UFS Council on 26 September 2025 to phase out the provisional registration – a decision that led to the recent protest actions on the three campuses the past week.

In a spirit of working towards a fairer, more equitable, and sustainable financial support system for all academically deserving students, Exco and the student leadership agreed that provisional registration will be phased out over a period of two years (2026-2027). This phased approach allows the university time to assess the risks students are facing with a view to assisting students. This means that from 1 January 2026, all students will be on a fully registered system.

In recognition of the challenges students face, the outcomes of the meeting reflect the university’s ongoing commitment, and it ensures that all students are supported within a financially sustainable framework. It also reaffirms the university’s commitment to expanding access through enhanced financial support while sustaining the UFS as a national asset for future generations.

The Exco remains committed to ongoing engagement with student leadership through open dialogue that reflects the university’s values, appreciates the constructive approach taken by the student leadership, and remains dedicated to working collaboratively in the best interest of all students and the broader university community.

Memorandum of Agreement between UFS Exco, ISRC, and CSRC

News Archive

State-of-the-art audio-visual studio up and running at UFS

2015-11-25

The state-of-the-art audio-visual studio that was unveiled in the beginning of this year reaped its first crop during a historic moment. On Wednesday 28 October 2015, the eight pilot students in the Postgraduate Programme in Film and Visual Media, which was launched at the beginning of this year, had their first big screen experience. Eight films were premiered in one night at the University of the Free State (UFS) Bloemfontein Campus.

An intimate movie theatre was brimming with friends and family of the students, their lecturers, and judges who doubled as moderators. This was no ordinary motion picture viewing. The apprentice filmmakers’ productions were undergoing formal external examination.

Judge by a legend

Katinka Heyns critiqued the student’s final products. Heyns is a renowned filmmaker, actress, director, producer, and founder of the production company, Sonneblom Films. She has numerous awards to her name, including the Career Contribution and Innovation Award, Legendary Award for Woman in Film and Television, and Medal of Honour for Paljas, which were presented by the Absa Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees (KKNK), International Crystal Award, and South African Academy for Science and Arts, respectively.

Johanet Kriel and Chris Vorster from the film school also assisted as moderators.

The cinema exam

Each student had 20 minutes to provide a synopsis for the viewers, and screen the movie. At the end, The Secret of the Golden Flower, written and directed by Rudiker Janse van Rensburg, and The Nexus Effect, written and directed by Gawie Myburgh were judged the best movies “Both films had had clear and creative story lines, a solid structure, and quality editing,” said Chris Vorster.

Despite technical teething problems, all the students showed a great deal of talent and passion for filmmaking. “Given the time constraints and technical challenges, I’m very relieved that we actually got films on screen. They all impressed me with their creativity. Mission accomplished,” added Vorster.

The films

• The Blood of Barbara (Yvonne Allwright)
• Diary of an Oreo (Nonsindiso Qwabe)
• GeFop! (Hendrik Cronje)
• The Nexus Effect (Gawie Myburgh)
• The Secret of the Golden Flower (Rudiker Janse van Rensburg)
• Well ain’t that a Coinkydink?! (Rethabile Radebe)
• What Lurks in the Dark…(Rese Moore)

(Photo caption: Front row from left: Nonsindiso Qwabe, Suné van Heerden, Theresa Moore, Gawie Myburgh. Middle row: Rudiker Janse van Rensburg, Hendrik Cronjé, Yvonne Allwright, and Rethabile Radebe. Back: lecturer: Chris Vorster.)

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