UFS Qwaqwa students ordered to vacate campus after violent protests

Students at the University of the Free State’s Qwaqwa Campus have been given 24 hours to vacate the premises following violent protests that resulted in the vandalism and torching of a building at the institution.

The protests began last Thursday after university management announced a new policy regarding student registration.

On Monday night, students demonstrated on campus, calling for the scrapping of the new rule.

The policy, which is set to take effect next year, stipulates that students with outstanding debt cannot be provisionally registered. It further outlines that students owing more than R20,000 or who are not funded by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) will not be allowed to register.

Protesting students say they cannot accept this policy because many cannot afford to clear their outstanding debt.

In a written statement, the University confirmed that the protest resulted in damage to property and that some officers sustained injuries, with three requiring hospitalisation.

First-year student Mcebo Hlathi said the protests have stopped, and students are attempting to comply with the evacuation order.

"Students that are in their first year, most are traumatised, they are scared after what happened yesterday because some were brutalised by the security personnel," Hlathi said.

The University says it is still assessing the cost of the damage to property.