Central SA
UFS students up in arms over end of provisional registration─── ZENANDE MPAME 13:03 Thu, 09 Oct 2025
Students at the University of the Free State (UFS) have taken to the streets in protest after being informed the institution will discontinue provisional registration from 2026.
The university’s decision means students who have not secured funding or who still owe money when registration opens for the 2026 academic year will not be allowed to register. Demonstrations erupted on Thursday (9/10) on the university’s main campus, where students attempted to shut down activities in opposition to the decision.
Police confirmed five male students, aged between 18 and 22, were arrested for public violence after allegedly throwing stones at patrol vehicles. Protests have continued throughout the week across all three UFS campuses – Bloemfontein, Qwaqwa, and South – as students call for the reinstatement of the provisional registration system.
“Our view is that this decision is an attack on economically marginalised students, and it is short-sighted,” said UFS student Bongekile Nokoyo.
“We have embarked on a mass protest, and our demand is clear: we want the reinstatement of the provisional registration mechanism. We only want a special council meeting and a resolution that reverses the decision immediately, or there will be no activity on campus.”
The UFS Council resolved to phase out provisional registration from the 2026 academic year, a move the student body has described as a blow to financially struggling students, especially those dependent on the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
University defends decision
In response to a memorandum handed over by the Institutional Student Representative Council, the university said the decision follows a review of the challenges faced by both students and the institution in recent years.
“This decision is part of a new, proactive, and student-focused approach that aims to help students plan better, avoid unnecessary stress, and ensure a smoother registration process,” the university said in a statement.
The DA Students Organisation (Daso) at the UFS has also condemned the decision, calling it regressive and damaging.
“This policy infringes on the constitutional right to basic education and gambles with the futures of thousands of students; it ultimately undermines the backbone of our country’s economy,” said Daso spokesperson Wanné Andrews.
• Have a news tip to share? Phone or whatsapp the OFM News Hotline: 066 487 1427.
