Dear Staff and Students at the Bloemfontein campus

As you are aware, there is currently a shutdown in Mangaung by the community. Yesterday’s protests in the city resulted in the tragic death of a teenager and an arson attack on the vehicle of one of our alumni.

Staff and students were severely affected, and many of them were unable to travel to the Bloemfontein campus yesterday and today, due to the absence of availability of public transport and blockages of access roads to the campus. This has also resulted in our protection services staff being unable to report for duty this morning.

Therefore, in order to ensure the safety of our staff and students, please note that the Bloemfontein campus will be closed for the remainder of today. Academic activities, where possible, will continue online, and staff should work from home.

We remain confident that these concerns by the community will be addressed today, and that all will be back to normal by tomorrow, to allow us to continue with the normal university business at the Bloemfontein campus.

Prof. Phatha Ngidi, DVC: Teaching and Learning, is currently engaging with Faculty Deans, and will also meet with the Students’ Representative Councils (SRCs) of both campuses tomorrow, to discuss the impact of this shutdown on the 2021 academic programme, and to implement strategies to address the time lost and other related matters.

Please avoid confrontation with the aggrieved community members, and stay safe!

Our apology for any inconvenience caused.

Kind regards / Ditumediso tse mofuthu / Vriendelike groete

Prof. Henk de Jager
Vice-Chancellor and Principal

Download the VC Communique, 18 May 2021 (PDF)