In a virtual media briefing held on Thursday, Peterson said the violent disruptions on all three campuses – Qwaqwa, Bloemfontein South, and the main Bloemfontein campus – shocked UFS management, who has been engaging with NSFAS, Student Council Representatives and other stakeholders to try to find a lasting solution for financial challenges faced by students.

Yesterday, UFS students on all three campuses were up in arms over issues of allowances and new payment methods introduced by NSFAS, among others. 

Naledi Tubela, the EFF UFS Student Command media liaison at the Bloemfontein Main Campus, said eZaga – an online digital banking service tasked with dispersing direct payments to NSFAS beneficiaries – has caused problems for students. She said the eZaga banking services are slow and have cost them some of their savings, as bank charges are high.

So far, the police have confirmed that there is damage at the university, leading to the arrest of 22 students for public violence on all campuses. Peterson confirmed that there were people who were injured during the protest, including members of the public. He added that the university still has to get a full report from the university’s protection services on injuries sustained and the property damage during the unrest.

“We’re focusing on ourselves as a caring institution and we will have to show that now and also in the impacts because injuries are not only physical, but also include trauma. We will have to find out which of the students, staff members and also students were affected and I’ve indicated, through Lacea Loader, that I would like to speak with those individuals in the public domain as well, as I would do with our staff and students.”

“I can’t stop emphasising that I would like to apologise for what happened yesterday to the whole community because that is not how I see a student of the University of the Free State,” he said.

Peterson said the situation is now calm in all three campuses and the university has also reinforced security to ensure no further damage occurs. 

Meanwhile, academic activities have been moved online until 4 August and the situation will be assessed. Peterson said moving academic activities online hasn’t had any major negative impact on students as the university already had the system in place as they were forced to move academic activities online during the Covid-19 pandemic.

OFM News