The arrests took place at various campuses where protests continue over the university’s decision to phase out provisional registration. Nine students will appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court after they were arrested for throwing stones at the police vehicles on patrol at the Bloemfontein campus. 

At the QwaQwa campus, 13 students were arrested on Thursday and are scheduled to appear in the Phuthaditjhaba Magistrate’s Court.

The university decided to move all academic activities of its three campuses (Bloemfontein, South, and Qwaqwa) online, effective from Thursday (9/10), following the disruptions relating to the phasing out of provisional registration at the university.

In response to the decision, student leadership groups on each of the campuses handed over memorandums of demands, to which the university responded, before disruptions occurred on all three campuses.

The security capacity on the Bloemfontein Campus has been increased. At the same time, the university’s protection services remain on high alert and are closely monitoring the situation on campus in cooperation with the police.

‘Bursary applications will open on Saturday’

“The phasing out of the provisional registration process does not affect students who have confirmed funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (Nsfas) or full alternative bursary funding, and if their historic debt does not exceed R20,000,” said UFS spokesperson Lacea Loader.

Under the university’s student-centred financial support strategy, bursary applications for the 2026 academic year will open on Saturday (11/10) for final-year bursaries, and other bursaries on Thursday (16/10), giving students more time to plan and secure funding.

“The university will also provide targeted financial advising to help students in managing their finances, applying for funding, and avoiding registration-related crises. As part of this transition, no deregistration of provisionally registered students will take place in 2025.”

It is important to note this is a phasing-out process where each and every student will be considered. The UFS remains committed to supporting students through building a fairer, equitable, and sustainable support system that promotes access, success, and responsible financial management

Students opposed the university’s decision and called it “a short-sighted attack on economically marginalised students”, said UFS student Bongekile Nokoyo.

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