THE University of the Free State (UFS) Council has accused unnamed external forces of inciting the violent protests that disrupted campuses this year, warning that the unrest bore the “hallmarks of those who understand neither the value of education nor the patience required for genuine institutional transformation”.
In a statement issued this week, the Council said the violence – which left several security officers and other members of the university community injured – threatened the very foundations of the institution.
While acknowledging that legitimate student concerns exist, it said it had “observed with growing concern what appears to be the influence of outside elements that seek to disrupt rather than to build, to destroy rather than to create dialogue”.
“There are forces, it seems, that do not share our commitment to the transformative power of education, forces that see universities not as sanctuaries of learning but as battlegrounds for agendas disconnected from the authentic concerns of students and staff,” the Council said.
These accusations come after the university was forced to suspend all on-campus academic activities on 14 October following a week of protests over a new financial support and registration model set to take effect in 2026.
The proposed changes – which will end provisional registration by 2025 and require confirmed funding before students can register – triggered unrest, particularly at the Qwaqwa campus.
The situation escalated on 13 October when a group of students allegedly vandalised property, set fires and injured security officers, three of whom were hospitalised.
The UFS subsequently closed the Qwaqwa campus and ordered students to vacate within 24 hours.
Bloemfontein and South Campus lectures were also suspended, with all teaching moved online to limit further disruption.
The Council, referencing those October events, said it had “witnessed tactics designed to inflame rather than to resolve, to divide our community rather than to unite it around shared purpose”.
It added that “the orchestrated violence, the deliberate disruption of academic activities, (and) the targeting of infrastructure” suggested coordination by individuals or groups “who have no stake in our students’ futures”.
“We will not allow external actors, whoever they may be, to undermine the educational project to which this university has devoted itself,” the Council warned.
“We will not permit those who have no stake in our students’ futures to jeopardise the academic year, to threaten staff safety, or to turn this campus into a theatre of destruction.”
Reaffirming that UFS belongs “to its students, its staff, and the communities it serves, and not to those who would exploit legitimate concerns for illegitimate ends”, the Council pledged to ensure accountability for perpetrators of violence while protecting the broader student body from blanket criminalisation.
The university says it is working with law enforcement and community leaders to strengthen campus security and restore stability, while expanding opportunities for constructive dialogue on issues such as financial exclusion, transformation and academic support.
Despite the turbulence, the Council expressed confidence in the institution’s resilience and mission.
It called on students to reject those promoting division and violence and urged stakeholders – including government, civil society and alumni – to support efforts to safeguard higher education.