BLOEMFONTEIN – A group of six male students at the University of the Free State (UFS) were arrested in connection with a petrol bomb attack on the university’s Bloemfontein campus. They are set to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrates’ Court today – Monday, 13 October. Their appearance follows their arrest by GAP Management Security officers on campus on Saturday, 11 October, at about 01:15.
Lt Col Thabo Covane, spokesperson for the Free State police, said the six students were apprehended after throwing a self-made petrol bomb at the guard room of the university situated at Gate 2, Bedenhout Street.
“The police, together with crime scene experts, were called to process the scene. They will face charges of malicious damage to property,” said Covane.
Events leading up to arrests
The arrest of the six came just hours after the first group of nine students were released on bail. The court released the nine on Friday, 10 October, with strict conditions. One condition was that they should not enter the institution’s campus until their case is finalised. The nine students, aged between 18 and 22 are set to reappear in court on 4 November. They face charge of public violence on the university’s premises.
This brings the total number of students arrested regarding the riot on the Bloemfontein campus to 15. The protest, which escalated into violence, followed the handing over of a memorandum of demands to senior management. The demonstration occurred after it became known that management had decided to discontinue provisional registration from the 2026 academic year.
Students residing on campus are receiving help in finding alternative accommodation. A significant number of police officials are now present at the three campuses of the university. These include one in Qwaqwa and two in Bloemfontein. This follows a request from university management due to sporadic incidents of violence.
