By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The University of the Free State (UFS) management and student leaders have agreed to phase out provisional registration over two years (2026–2027).
This comes after a weeklong student protests from three campuses, which stem from opposition to new registration requirements, particularly the discontinuation of provisional registration starting in 2026, which students argue disproportionately affects those with financial difficulties.
The decision was made by the UFS Council on 26 September to implement provisional registration, meaning students with outstanding fees or without confirmed funding would no longer be allowed to register.
Students demanded that the university’s council revise its decision on immediate implementation of provisional registration.
The violent protests led to extensive damage to university property, where students engaged in acts of vandalism and arson, and left several security officers with injuries and three hospitalised on the Qwaqwa campus.
The Qwaqwa campus remains closed due to the extent of the damage, while academic staff will return in phases once safety assessments are complete.
The university’s executive committee, Institutional Student Representative Council, and Campus Student Representative Councils (CSRCs) from all three campuses met on Wednesday and agreed that provisional registration will be gradually phased out.
UFS spokesperson Lacea Loader said, this phased approach will allow the university time to assess the risks students face with a view to assisting them. The agreement was part of the university’s efforts to “build a fairer, more equitable and sustainable financial support system for academically deserving students”.
As part of the new arrangement, students with debt of up to R70,000 will be allowed to register, and all registered students will have access to their academic records regardless of outstanding balances.
Loader said the decision “reflects the university’s commitment to supporting students within a financially sustainable framework”.
“The Exco remains committed to ongoing dialogue with student leadership through open discussion that reflects the university’s values and works collaboratively in the best interest of all students and the broader university community,’ Loader added.
The agreement aims to address concerns over rising student debt, estimated at close to a billion rand over the past five years, while balancing access, fairness, and financial sustainability.