QWAQWA - Violence across three Free State University campuses has resulted in a suspension of teaching and learning and one complete campus closure.
Classes have been suspended at Free State University, and students have been given 24 hours to leave the QwaQwa campus.
UFS Qwaqwa SRC president Mcebo Hlatsi spoke with eNCA about students who have been affected by the sudden closure of the QwaQwa campus.
"The plan currently is that we have organised for the individuals who could not arrange to go home because of not having enough funds.
"Others are staying as far as Limpopo, or as far as the Eastern Cape, you can imagine: They don't have that money considering it is during the month."
Hlatsi said some measures have been taken to accommodate students by religious and community leaders, but their plans for food and accommodation for the rest of the week remain to be seen.
Hlatsi and other student leaders will be meeting with the university administration on Wednesday to discuss a way forward.
READ: UFS campus closure | Students angry over new registration system
A decision to discontinue provisional registration next year sparked the unrest.
Meanwhile, UFS released the following statement on Wednesday.
"In the interest of the safety of the staff and students at the University of the Free State (UFS), the Executive Management assessed the current situation on the three campuses and made the following resolutions:
1. The QwaQwa Campus is closed with immediate effect, and students are requested to leave the campus within the next 24 hours.
2. The Executive Management Committee extends an invitation to the Student Representative Councils (SRCs) of all three campuses to further engagement.
3. On the Bloemfontein and South Campuses, all lectures are suspended until further notice; however, only limited movement will be allowed on campus from 19:00 in the evening until 07:00 in the morning."
University of the Free State introduces a fairer, equitable, and sustainable financial support system for all students
Read more: https://t.co/cy2E9Qdf6K #UFSFinancialSupport #FairFutureAtUs pic.twitter.com/gvO2PjR8vF— UFS (@UFSweb) October 13, 2025
On Monday, a press release by the university stated that students with outstanding debt greater than R30,000 will not be allowed to register until their debt is reduced.
Students with less than R30,000 of historical debt are allowed to register with a "first payment" and "settlement of historic debt" by the end of May 2026.
Students with confirmed financial assistance and historic debt of less than R20,000 and those with NSFAS confirmation, will be allowed to register in full.
Students say this will impact those from poor and working-class backgrounds.
The university says the shift comes after years of growing student debt, now approaching R1-billion.
The EFF Free State released a statement last week, stating the organisation will not rest until justice is served.
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EFF Free State Statement On The Discontinuation Of Provisional Registration And The Arrest Of Students at UFS
-The EFF Free State will not rest until justice is served, and the gates of learning are reopened to those who need them most. We remind the university… pic.twitter.com/vBhU8OBKJF— EFF Free State (@EFF_FreeState) October 10, 2025