Central SA
Six UFS students to reappear in court for public violence charges─── ZENANDE MPAME 14:25 Tue, 04 Nov 2025
Six University of the Free State students are expected to appear again on charges of public violence in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 1 December.
They appeared on Tuesday (4/11) after they were arrested in October after allegedly pelting police vehicles with stones during protests on the Bloemfontein campus over dissatisfaction with the university’s decision to end provisional registration. The students, aged between 18 and 22, are Junior Mkhwanazi, Bokamoso Mokone, Ahonke Ncokazi, Lindokuhle Apleni, Ntsikayethu Shezi, and Lesedi Nkgapele.
Their bail conditions include they are not to interrupt any UFS activities. They are allowed to go back to their residences.
Three other students will also appear in the same court on Wednesday (5/11) on charges of public violence.
Following discussions with the student representative council, the university agreed to gradually phase out the system over the next two years.
“The UFS has reviewed the provisional registration process and found that it no longer serves its original intended purpose,” said UFS spokesperson Lacea Loader. “Namely, to allow academically deserving but financially constrained students to continue their studies while making plans to settle outstanding debt.
“The executive committee, the institutional student representative council, and the campus student representative councils jointly agreed on a phased implementation of the council’s decision.
“The decision is to phase out provisional registration over two years (2026-2027), allowing concessions for students with outstanding debt, and ensuring that all registered students have access to their official academic records. This agreement confirms the council’s decision to bring an end to provisional registration.”
The agreement allows for a phased approach in the implementation of the decision over two years. As of 1 January 2028, all students will be fully registered, she said.
All academic activities at UFS continued on Monday, 20 October, and the academic calendar was amended to ensure the completion of the academic year. The start of the main end-of-year examinations was moved from Monday (3/11), to Monday, 10 November.
The university previously secured an interim court order prohibiting individuals from engaging in any unlawful activities across its three campuses. Academic activities were disrupted from Monday, 13 October, culminating in incidents of vandalism, arson, and injuries to three security personnel.
