Fort Hare shuts down amid violent protests
Fort Hare University management has shut down both campuses in Dikeni, formerly Alice, and in East London, as student protests escalated.
Several buildings were set alight on Wednesday, including the staff centre, and the administration and student services buildings, with further reports of looting.
In a statement, vice chancellor, Professor Sakhele Buhlungu, said despite a court interdict to prevent escalating violence, the situation has worsened.
“The university management has expressed deep disappointment and regret that the actions of a few have endangered the safety of the entire University community and disrupted the academic programme.
“The institution remains committed to restoring normal operations as soon as possible as the security situation allows.
“The latest developments, including the large-scale destruction of property, indicate that we are dealing with much bigger issues, with a significant component of sponsored violence and criminality,” he said.
Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane has meanwhile engaged with the clergy and civil society leaders to assist government restore calm at the campus and work towards enabling a conducive environment for dialogue to take place with all the relevant stakeholders.
“The clergy is from various denominations led by the Reverend Bongani Finca, supported by Rev Cyril Hartland, Rev. Mpumelelo Qwabaza, Bhishop Andile Mbethe, Bhishop Nceba Nopece, Bishop Ebenezer Ntlali, Rev Vuyani Nyobole, and Rev Gcobani Vika,” he said.
Mabuyane said the clergy will be supported by various MEC’s, while a team sent from the Department of Higher Education and Training, will focus its attention on administrative issues.
“The scenes we have seen unfolding are very bad and we continue to call on University stakeholders to resolve these matters.
“I condemn in the strongest possible terms the vandalism and the destruction of property – which is likely to set back the infrastructure development we have seen at the university by another 10 years,” said Mabuyane.
He also noted that the “reported injury of students skirmishes with law enforcement personnel” and wished them a speedy recovery.
In an earlier statement, the EFF in the Eastern Cape said the UFH University Council and the Management Executive Committee are accused of disregarding these laws by attempting to dictate the direction of student governance without the buy-in of students.
“It is alleged that the Council not only resolved to suspend the Student Representatives Council (SRC) 2025/26 elections and appoint an interim SRC, but they also protected the conduct by management which resulted in this situation.
“Students further allege that the management played a central role in disrupting their efforts to draft a Student Governance Constitution (SGC) because they wanted to draft it themselves,” the party said in a statement.
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