Police in Bloemfontein have arrested five male students, aged between 18 and 22, for their alleged involvement in public violence during protest action on the Bloemfontein Campus of the University of the Free State (UFS).
Free State police spokesperson, Lt Col Thabo Covane, said the UFS requested the deployment of SAPS officers to the university’s three campuses — Bloemfontein, South Campus, and Qwaqwa — in response to an alleged renewed threat of protest action linked to student debt, NSFAS funding challenges, and the termination of provisional registration from 2026.
“The request came after that the university noticed heightened mobilisation on social media platforms, with posts suggesting that groups intend to disrupt normal university operations,” stated Covane.
Public Order Police arrested the five students on the Bloemfontein Campus at around 10:00. “The students were arrested for throwing stones at the police vehicles on patrol at the university,” explained the spokesperson.
He added that SAPS members continue to conduct patrols in and around the university’s premises.
Compiled by Warren Hawkins
warren@mahareng.co.za
