Fort Hare in flames: Student protests rage, VC under fire

Protests

Cape Town – The University of Fort Hare has suspended all operations following violent student protests that resulted in two campus buildings being set alight and two students hospitalised.

University management has ordered all students to vacate the Alice campus by 5pm on Thursday as tensions remain high.

The protests were sparked by demands for the removal of Vice-Chancellor Prof Sakhela Buhlungu, whom students accuse of ignoring their long-standing grievances and failing to engage them meaningfully.

Student organisations expressed “deep concern and collective outrage” over the violence, distancing themselves from those responsible for burning university property.

They claimed the unrest had been “hijacked” by “outside forces or individuals with ulterior motives” seeking to “sabotage legitimate student struggles and destabilise our institution.”

As stated by Vice-Chancellor Professor Sakhela Buhlungu, the decision to suspend operations was necessary due to the actions of a few individuals on campus.

“The University of Fort Hare has been forced to suspend all operations due to the reckless and dangerous actions of a few individuals. The safety of our students, staff, and property remains our priority, and we urge all parties to exercise restraint while the university works to restore order,” he said.

Students are protesting the university’s decision to appoint an interim SRC while amendments to the student governance constitution were still being finalised.

According to News24, student leaders said the decision bypassed democratic processes and sparked widespread anger on campus.

A coalition of student organisations, including SASCO, EFF Student Command, PASMA, Sasco, and YCLSA, released a joint statement addressing the unrest.

“A mass meeting was convened today in protest against the imposition of unconstitutional changes to student structures.

“The University management must stop the destabilisation and respect student voices. We distance ourselves from acts of criminality, but we will continue to demand accountability from leadership until our voices are heard,” the statement read, as reported by IOL.

They said that “the silence and inaction of the university leadership” had aggravated the situation.

The students accused the vice-chancellor’s office of showing “a complete disregard for the students’ voice and concerns” and raised alarm bells over “ongoing corruption investigations linked to the vice-chancellor’s office.”

They added that the protests would continue until the Vice-Chancellor personally engages with students.

“Students are angry, students are frustrated, because they have been suppressed. The student governance has been suppressed, and we demand accountability,” the students said.

They also alleged that law enforcement and private security used excessive force: “Live ammunition has been used on unarmed students, resulting in serious wounds and the hospitalisation of at least two students.”

In their list of demands, they called for:

    1. The withdrawal of armed security and police from campus;

    2. An independent investigation into the torching of buildings;

    3. Transparent elections for a functioning Student Representative Council (SRC);

    4. The resignation of Vice-Chancellor Prof. Buhlungu.

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