The University of the Free State (UFS) has made the decision to move all academic activities of its three campuses (Bloemfontein, South and Qwaqwa) online, effective today (9/10), following disruptions relating to the phasing out of provisional registration at the university.
UFS spokesperson, Lacea Loader, stated that the Council of the UFS approved the phasing out of provisional registration for the 2026 academic year on 26 September. “This means that from 2026, students will need to be fully registered once their fees or funding have been confirmed,” she explained.
Loader further explained that the phasing out of provisional registration does not affect students who have confirmed funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) or full alternative bursary funding and if their historic debt does not exceed R20 000.
In response to the decision, student leadership groups on each of the campuses handed over memorandums of demands, to which the university responded, before disruptions occurred on all three campuses.
“On the Bloemfontein Campus, a group of students were disrupting activities and vandalising property,” Loader stated.
Police have confirmed that five students have since been arrested for public violence, while the security capacity on the Bloemfontein Campus has been increased. “The university’s Protection Services remains on high alert and is closely monitoring the situation on campus in cooperation with the South African Police Service (SAPS),” added the UFS spokesperson.
Bloemfontein Courant has also reached out to the UFS Student Representative Council (SRC) President for comment on the situation.
Compiled by Warren Hawkins
warren@mahareng.co.za
 has moved all academic activities online across its Bloemfontein, South, and Qwaqwa campuses following disruptions linked to the phasing out of provisional registration. The decision comes after student protests, property damage, and several arrests on the Bloemfontein Campus.){kind=link}