On Wednesday, 14 students between the ages of 19 and 24 were arrested at two UFS campuses in Bloemfontein, while 8 were arrested at the Qwaqwa campus. Police spokesperson in Mangaung, Thabo Covane, explained that one man and five women were arrested at the South Campus at about 10:00 after throwing stones at the police. 

He detailed that a further eight students, all men, were arrested at the main campus at about 17:00 after blocking parts of the Nelson Mandela Road and throwing stones and bricks at vehicles passing the intersection. Cases of public violence were opened at the Park Road and Kagisanong Police Stations.

Police spokesperson in Maluti-a-Phofung, Mmako Mophiring, said eight students from the UFS’ Qwaqwa campus were also arrested for public violence. 

They disrupted university activities on Wednesday at about 11:50. He alleged that a group of students approached one of the buildings on campus. The private security tried to push them back from the entrance of the building, but they started throwing stones at security personnel. The building and the vehicles that were parked nearby were damaged but no injuries were reported.

During the student protests, the university released a statement that it will be moving its academic programme online. Naledi Tubela, the EFF UFS Student Command media liaison at the main campus in Bloemfontein, explained that students’ main problem is the National Financial Aid Allowance Scheme (NSFAS) allowances through eZaga, an online digital banking service, tasked with dispersing direct payments to NSFAS beneficiaries.

She said the introduction of Ezaga has caused many challenges for students, as they are experiencing issues when they have to receive their allowances and this new eZaga banking services app also charges bank fees which are too high. She also mentioned that some students are now being deregistered. Tubela added no effective resolutions came after meetings with the UFS management. She said they will continue to support students who were arrested. The continuation of the student protest will depend on the outcome of the meeting that will be held with students on Thursday.

“The students will determine the way forward. If students want to rally again today, gathered in their numbers and take it to the streets, we will be here for the students. Currently, we are trying to organise legal support (for arrested students). We've managed to get them some toiletries and food. Currently, we are trying to get them legal support, we have already spoken to the higher structures of our organisation,” concluded Tubela.

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