The University of Fort Hare has been forced to close its doors and evacuate students following a four-day protest that escalated into significant violence, leaving key university buildings torched and causing an estimated R250 to R500 million in damages.
The unrest, which has left scores of students displaced and academic progress in jeopardy, stems from a deep-seated crisis of governance and student representation at the institution.
Student leaders cite a litany of grievances, including the university management’s appointment of an interim Student Representative Council (SRC), which they claim is a tool to silence dissent during amendments to the Student Governance Constitution.
“The interim SRC is handpicked by the university management and council and that it will not have the interests of students at heart,” a student representative argued.
Further fueling the anger is the council’s decision to extend the contract of Vice-Chancellor Professor Sakhele Buhlungu by 12 months. Students also point to a failure to fill key leadership positions permanently, such as the council chairperson and dean of students, as evidence of systemic failure.
A more grave concern was also raised regarding student welfare. “There’s been… in the space of a month… more than four deaths of students, some suicide… and there’s been no accountability. No one is held accountable. No one is taking responsibility,” a student lamented, criticizing the institution’s slow and opaque communication on such critical matters.
The university’s response—evicting students from both on- and off-campus residences—has added to the disruption. Students report being given short notice, leaving many stranded and financially strained.
“This eviction… is inconveniencing us in such a way that we don’t have allowances,” one student explained. “Some students are living outside the province… so they are being inconvenienced and some of them now have to borrow money because they are panicking.”
The University of Fort Hare has firmly refuted the students’ claims. A university representative presented a survey suggesting only 10-12% of students support the call for the Vice-Chancellor’s resignation, alleging the protest is being “exploited by those who do not want to see structure, discipline and governance.”
The institution went further, suggesting the protests are influenced by “external forces” seeking to “milk the institution dry.” Officials pointed to ongoing court cases involving fraud, local political interference, and disgruntled former employees as potential catalysts behind the unrest.
The cost of the damage is staggering. Severely affected buildings include the Agriculture and Science faculty, the Education faculty, the Faculty of Arts and Culture, the campus clinic, and the administration building. The Dean of the Agriculture and Science faculty reported that the destruction extends beyond infrastructure to critical academic materials and newly installed cutting-edge technology.
“Even if they come back, we’re going to struggle in making sure that we continue with the practical part,” the Dean stated, highlighting the severe impact on both undergraduate and postgraduate students whose research and data have been destroyed.
With the campus temporarily closed, the university has announced that academic programs will resume online on Monday. However, the forced evacuation from off-campus accommodations, which has been deemed unlawful by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), continues to leave many students in precarious situations.
The institution says it is engaging with stakeholders and the Department of Higher Education to restore order, but for now, the historic university remains a site of smoldering ruins and a deeply fractured relationship between its students and management.