Administration and Student Affairs Buildings Torched Amid Escalating Fort Hare Protests

The University of Fort Hare (UFH), one of South Africa's oldest and most historically significant universities, has been forced to suspend all operations following a wave of violent student protests that saw several key buildings set alight. The unrest, primarily concentrated at the university's Alice Campus in the Eastern Cape, escalated dramatically when protestors fire bombed and torched the main administration and student affairs buildings on Wednesday. The significant destruction of property prompted the university management to take the drastic measure of suspending all academic activities and ordering students to vacate residences with immediate effect to ensure the safety of the entire community and halt further damage.

Roots of the Unrest and Student Demands

The violent demonstrations were reportedly sparked by a deep seated dispute over student governance and the management of the institution. A key trigger was the university's plan to appoint an interim Student Representative Council (SRC) while amendments to the student governance constitution were being made. Students and their representative bodies claim this was an attempt to suppress democratic representation and was executed without proper consultation. Further fueling the anger are longstanding demands for the resignation of Vice Chancellor Professor Sakhela Buhlungu, whom students accuse of failing to address allegations of mismanagement, poor governance, lack of safety, and a general collapse of the university’s governance systems. Student leaders have publicly expressed their frustration, stating they are "suppressed" and that management is "arrogant" in its failure to respond to their concerns.

Extensive Damage and Official Condemnation

Videos and reports from the scene depicted chaotic scenes with plumes of smoke billowing from the historic campus buildings. Police and private security were on high alert, with reports of clashes between students and security personnel, which allegedly led to injuries among some students. Police confirmed that four buildings, including the admin block, Student Centre, Auditorium, and an HIV Centre, were set on fire. Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane and the Parliamentary Select Committee on Education have strongly condemned the violence, labeling the large scale destruction of public property as unacceptable and criminal. The Vice Chancellor suggested that the scale of the destruction points to "much bigger issues with a significant component of sponsored violence and criminality" beyond mere student dissatisfaction.

Intervention and Impact on the Academic Programme

The Ministry of Higher Education has acknowledged the gravity of the situation, requesting a de escalation plan from the university and confirming that officials are closely monitoring developments. Meetings between education officials and student leaders are anticipated to address the deep seated grievances. However, with academic activities abruptly halted so close to examinations, thousands of students face significant disruption to their education, a setback that disproportionately affects students from poor and working class backgrounds who depend on the institution's limited resources. The ongoing unrest marks another chapter in a history of student activism and protest at the institution which has previously been the alma mater of anti-apartheid icons like Nelson Mandela.