Students at the Central University of Technology (CUT), Free State, and University of the Free State’s (UFS) Bloemfontein-based campuses have embarked on protests over varying issues. 

Students at CUT on Sunday evening embarked on a protest to demand student allowances, the reinstatement of their student leader Moses Ntonyane, and the disbandment of the Student Representative Council (SRC), led by the EFF Student Command (EFFSC). 

Meanwhile, students at UFS, led by the EFFSC SRC, on Friday afternoon also embarked on a protest over the eviction of students by their private landlords or those issued with notices of evictions, amongst others. 

The CUT Management, meanwhile, has accused students of peddling a slew of false information to the public, whilst the UFS is yet to comment.

In the statement released by CUT on Monday, spokesperson Dan Maritz said the institution “understands the plight of students, however, while we work to ensure they have received their allowances, their assistance is needed as some students’ details are not correct or complete.

OFM News previously reported that student activist, Moeketsi Moeketsi, said the university will not operate until their demands are addressed.

“We are going to continue with the unrest and we are going to make the institution ungovernable until such time that all our issues have been resolved. Like I've said, there are non-negotiable demands - one, lifting the suspension of our comrade president, secondly, the issue that is not negotiable is the SRC elections, because we want SRC elections that are free and fair,” he added.

Moeketsi alleges the institution has failed to send the template of students approved for funding to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), hence students were not paid for the past few months. He said this was the biggest mistake by the institution.

OFM News