The University of the Free State (UFS) has closed its Qwaqwa campus with immediate effect after days of student protests over the decision to scrap provisional registration from 2026.
In a notice sent to students on Tuesday, the university said the closure was made “in the interests of the safety of staff and students” after assessing the unrest across all three campuses. Qwaqwa students were instructed to leave the campus within 24 hours.
The university also suspended all lectures at its Bloemfontein and South campuses until further notice and restricted movement between 7pm and 7am to maintain safety and order.
The decision follows continued tension between university management and the campus student representative council (SRC), which has rejected the R30,000 debt concession agreement reached between management and the institutional SRC.
Under the agreement, students with historic debt of up to R30,000 would be allowed to register for the 2026 academic year, provided they make a first payment and settle their debt by May 30 2026.
The campus SRC said the concession fails to address the financial struggles of most students, whose debts often exceed R100,000.
“The R30,000 cap is out of touch with student realities,” said student leaders.
“The only fair solution is the reinstatement of provisional registration, which gave students access to education while they arranged funding.”
Student leaders and organisations said they would not accept any agreement that excludes the poor and working class. They have urged management to consult meaningfully with all campus SRCs and student formations before implementing new financial rules.
In response, the university announced it is introducing a fairer and more sustainable financial support system from 2026 which includes the full phasing out of provisional registration.
UFS spokesperson Lacea Loader said the new model “will ensure from 2026 students are fully registered once their fees or funding have been confirmed”. She said the approach “allows students to plan and manage their registration while providing certainty about their registration status”.
The university said the new system would not affect students funded by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme and those with confirmed bursaries and historic debts below R20,000. Students owing less than R30,000 will also be allowed to register, while those owing more must reduce their debt to R30,000 to qualify.
Loader said the change follows years of growing student debt.
“If we continue with past practices, the university’s sustainability is at risk,” she said.
“Over the past five years, student debt has increased to nearly R1bn.”
She said provisional registration had not achieved its intended purpose.
“A review of 2025 data found most provisionally registered students could not meet payment commitments, which caused stress and uncertainty,” she said.
The university said bursary applications for 2026 had opened, and new funds including the VC-ISRC Imbewu Legacy Fund had been created to support students at risk.
Despite the efforts, the campus SRC maintained phasing out provisional registration undermines access to education.
“Education is not a privilege but a right,” they said. “Removing provisional registration is like closing the door on thousands of students who simply cannot afford to pay upfront.”
The university has invited all three campus SRCs to further discussions to find a solution. Until then Qwaqwa remains closed, and classes at the Bloemfontein and South campuses are suspended until further notice.
TimesLIVE
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