By Jimmy Zwane | SA Varsity News
October 16, 2025
The University of Fort Hare (UFH) Council has strongly condemned the recent unrest and destruction on its campuses, warning that these acts appear to be a deliberate assault on the university’s Renewal Project—a critical strategic initiative aimed at revitalising infrastructure, enhancing accountability, and bolstering academic excellence.
Council Interim Chairperson Ms Kuselwa Marala described the unrest as more than mere vandalism. “This was not just an act of destruction. It appears to be a targeted attack on the very foundation of the University’s Renewal Project,” she stated, highlighting the severity of the damage.
Supporting this view, council member Dr Siyanda Makaula noted that the damage seemed to focus on the significant progress made in recent years. “The destruction appears to have been carefully aimed at dismantling the legacies of the past few years’ hard work,” he remarked.
As part of a swift response, a Council delegation undertook a two-day oversight visit to UFH’s Alice and East London campuses to evaluate the damage and engage directly with students affected by the turmoil.
During the visit to Alice Campus, the delegation met students at Davidson Stadium, listening closely to their concerns and receiving a memorandum that outlined their demands. Dr Makaula emphasized the importance of this engagement: “We were also given a tour of student residences, which offered us valuable insights into the daily challenges students face. It is clear that there are areas urgently needing attention and improvement.”
Council member and Honourable Executive Mayor Noncedo Zonke described the damage as “heartbreaking” but expressed relief that no lives were lost. “While the destruction is severe, we are thankful that it was not accompanied by any loss of life. The situation could have been much worse,” she said.
The extent of the damage on Alice Campus includes the destruction of a brand-new University Clinic that was scheduled to open next month. The Agriculture building, which houses state-of-the-art laboratories upgraded earlier this year at a cost of R20 million, was also severely damaged. The Staff Centre—already torched during unrest eight years ago—and three wings of the Main Administration building were heavily affected. The Student Affairs building also suffered extensive damage. On the East London Campus, the Education building was not spared.
In response to the crisis, UFH’s Human Resources and Student Counselling Unit have activated comprehensive psychological and counselling services to support affected students and staff.
Ms Marala underscored the Council’s commitment to safety and peace: “While differences of opinion are inevitable on a vibrant university campus, violence is never an acceptable response. Our immediate priority is the safety and well-being of all community members, alongside resuming teaching and learning so that the 2025 academic year can be completed.”
The Institutional Forum (IF), led by Chair Dr Siphe Potelwa, issued a firm statement condemning the violence, vandalism, and looting. The Forum called on all members of the university community to reject anarchic behaviour. “The actions of a few threaten the future of this institution. The University of Fort Hare is our shared heritage and belongs to many generations to come. We must protect it at all costs—it cannot be destroyed in our lifetime,” the statement read.
With the Integrated Recovery Plan now finalised, UFH is focused on restoring stability and ensuring uninterrupted teaching, learning, and student support.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Sakhela Buhlungu emphasised the shared commitment across all stakeholders: “The key goal for the Council, the MEC, the University’s Extended Management Team, and the Department of Higher Education and Training is to safeguard the academic year. This will enable examinations to proceed as planned, ensuring students, especially those in their final year, can graduate on time.”
In closing, both the Council and Institutional Forum called on students, staff, alumni, and partners to unite in rebuilding the university and protecting its future.
