This was revealed by UFS’ Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Francis Petersen, during a virtual media briefing held on Thursday to address the ongoing tensions at the institution over registration hiccups and the UFS’ mandatory Covid-19 vaccination policy. 

Petersen says R60 million of the money owed to them is by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). He cautions that this debt cannot simply be written off despite increasing calls from the public to have this done. OFM News has been regularly reporting on the student demonstrations that have arisen from these registration challenges in recent days, affecting not just the UFS, but the Central University of Technology (CUT), Free State, as well.

The UFS has, as a result, suspended in-person classes at its Qwaqwa campus for the next three to four weeks following security concerns. The institution has availed 10 gigs to each student to enable them to access online learning platforms in the interim. UFS says they have also secured off-campus accommodation for Qwaqwa students who have no alternative accommodation arranged during this period, contrary to allegations that students have been abandoned.

READ MORE: UFS returns to online learning

However, Petersen says ideally they would like to return to having 67% of modules being face-to-face again at the end of this four-week period.

The institution says in the meantime, they have further availed R10 million in funding to NSFAS students who are yet to receive their registration fees or their allowances from the scheme, to help them secure accommodation, books, and food, so that they can get registered and settled.

Petersen remains steadfast on the issue of first-year students, adding that they have enrolled over 9000 first-year students – 1000 more than their target – and therefore cannot take more.

OFM News