ALICE – The University of Fort Hare has suspended operations and intensified police visibility following student protests that began on Monday, 6 October, with at least six significant university buildings having been burnt in the destruction of university infrastructure.
According to police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Siphokazi Mawisa, the protests began at 04:00 on Monday and continued until Tuesday, 7 October.
Police arrested eight suspects aged between 22 and 33 years for public violence and business burglary. “The suspects appeared before the Alice Magistrate Court and will appear again on 26 November 2025,” she said.
Further revealing the intensity of the protests, she disclosed that on Tuesday, 8 October at about 16:30, “protesting students continued to set alight the Administration block, Student Centre, Auditorium and HIV Centre. Police swiftly responded and used rubber bullets to disperse the violent crowd.”
During the unrest, protesters held four security officials hostage in a building before they were rescued by police. All four were reported unharmed.
Mawisa noted that the situation at the university remains tense, however police continue to monitor the situation closely to prevent further incidents. “No arrests have been made for malicious damage to property and arson at this stage,” she noted.
“Police are intensifying visibility and will not decline to maintain order and stabilize the situation. They will carry their mandate with dignity to ensure safety for all,” she concluded.
In a statement issued by the University of Fort Hare, the institution explained that it had to shut down due to the escalating protest activities, despite being granted a court order to prevent such conduct.
University Management 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.”
According to the statement, the institution remains committed to restoring normal operations as soon 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,” the university stated.
