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By Johnathan Paoli
Academic activities at the University of the Free State (UFS) have been brought to a standstill as students continue their protest against the university’s decision to scrap the provisional registration system from next year.
The shutdown, which began at the end of the weekend at the main Bloemfontein campus, has seen hundreds of students mobilising to block entrances and disrupt classes in what they describe as a “peaceful but determined” protest.
“This is not just a protest about registration; it’s a protest about survival. When the university closes doors to poor students, it closes doors to South Africa’s future,” Bloemfontein campus SRC president Ogorogile Moleme said.
Students have vowed to continue demonstrations until management reverses the policy, accusing the institution of abandoning its commitment to access and transformation.
Meanwhile, tensions remain high outside the Bloemfontein Magistrates’ Court, where six students appeared on charges of malicious damage to property and attempted arson, following a series of arrests over the past week.
The controversy stems from a September 26 council resolution ending the provisional registration system, a long-standing arrangement that allowed students to register and begin their studies while still finalising fee payments or awaiting bursary confirmations.
UFS spokesperson Lacea Loader confirmed the move, saying the council’s decision followed an extensive review.
“Students will need to be fully registered once their fees or funding have been confirmed. The university’s review found that provisional registration was not an effective mechanism to support students with financial challenges, as many failed to meet payment agreements,” she said.
She added that the university plans to roll out a new “student-centred financial support strategy”, including earlier bursary applications and improved financial advising.
“The UFS remains committed to supporting students through building a fair, equitable and sustainable support system that promotes access, success and responsible financial management,” Loader said.
However, student leaders argue that the decision will have devastating consequences for poor and working-class learners who rely on the flexibility of provisional registration to access higher education.
The council also accused management of failing to consult students before implementing such a consequential policy.
For many students, the issue has revived frustrations over unfulfilled promises of transformation nearly a decade after the #FeesMustFall movement.
A memorandum of demands submitted to UFS management on October 8 called for the reinstatement of provisional registration, the retention of the acknowledgment of debt system with a cap of R50,000, and permission for returning students awaiting funding to register without paying upfront.
It also demanded an end to what students describe as the “militarisation” of campuses through police deployment and arrests.
Police confirmed they had been deployed to all three UFS campuses; Bloemfontein, Qwaqwa and South, after memorandums were handed over.
Moleme said 11 students were arrested last Thursday, with nine later released on free bail and two on R500 bail.
Another six were detained early on Saturday morning.
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