Central SA
UFS students back in court next year following public violence─── ZENANDE MPAME 10:16 Tue, 02 Dec 2025
Six University of the Free State students are due to reappear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on charges of public violence in March.
The case was postponed for further investigations during a brief court appearance on Monday (1/12). They were arrested in October for allegedly throwing stones at police vehicles during protests on the Bloemfontein campus, sparked by dissatisfaction with the university’s decision to end provisional registration.
The students 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 were allowed to return to their residences.
‘Allowed to be back’
Four of the students were living on campus in the Villa Bravado. They were previously forbidden from entering the men’s residence, but their advocate, Smanga Nxanga, successfully applied for them to be allowed back.
On Monday, Nxanga asked for a postponement as the students were going to travel home for the university recess and would only be back next year for registration. This was not opposed.
Students protested over the institution’s decision to discontinue provisional registration from next year. Demonstrations erupted at the beginning of October on the university’s main campus, where students attempted to shut down activities in opposition to the decision.
Students opposed the university’s decision and called it “a short-sighted attack on economically marginalised students”, said UFS student Bongekile Nokoyo.
UFS spokesperson Lacea Loader said they’d decide to phase out provisional registration over two years, but the university would allow concessions for students with outstanding debt and ensure all registered students have access to their official academic records.
The UFS previously obtained an interim court order prohibiting anyone from engaging in 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.
All academic activities resumed on Monday, 20 October. The academic calendar was amended to ensure the completion of the academic year.
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