BLOEMFONTEIN – Eight protesters were arrested yesterday – Wednesday, 15 October – outside the premises of the University of the Free State’s (UFS) main campus in Bloemfontein. They are due to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrates’ Court today – Thursday, 16 October. The Bloemfontein police confirmed the protesters’ status as currently enrolled at the institution.
The eight were arrested at about 07:20 for blockading DF Malherbe Avenue, adjacent to Gate 5 of the university. This resulted in a traffic congestion. The disgruntled group used stones to block the road in their protest against the university council’s decision to discontinue provisional registration for the 2026 academic year.
Lt Col. Thabo Covane, spokesperson for the Free State police, said the students are charged with contravention of the Road Traffic Act.
This brings the total number of students arrested regarding the riot on the Bloemfontein campus to 23.
The arrestees are aged between 18 and 22. The first group of nine students is set to reappear in court on Tuesday, 4 November.
Covane said the nine students face charges of contravention of the Criminal Matters Amendment Act and public violence caused on the university’s premises on Thursday, 9 October. They first appeared in court on Friday, 10 October.
The second group of six male students appeared in the same court on Monday, 13 October, following their arrest on Saturday, 11 October, at about 01:15. The GAP Management Security officers arrested them and handed them over to the police.
Covane said the six students face charges of malicious damage to property on the Bloemfontein campus. They were apprehended after allegedly throwing a self-made petrol bomb at the guard room of the university situated at Gate 2, Badenhorst Street.
According to Covane, the court released all 15 students with strict conditions and a warning to reappear in court on the scheduled date. The conditions prohibit them from entering or residing on the institution’s campus until their case is finalised.
Following the escalation of violent acts, the UFS Council has resolved to indefinitely close all three campuses – two in Bloemfontein, and one in the Qwaqwa campus in the Eastern Free State. Lecturing will continue online in the meantime.
Incidents of violence accompanied by vandalism of property were also reported at the Qwaqwa campus. However, no arrests were made.
