University of Fort Hare
By Karabo Marifi
The University of Fort Hare in the Eastern Cape is picking up the pieces after a week of fierce protests that left its campuses in ruins. Starting Monday, 20 October 2025, teaching will move online to keep the academic year on track. This comes after the institution shut down last Thursday when angry students set fire to several buildings, causing massive damage. University leaders say keeping staff and students safe is their main goal, while also fixing the mess and listening to what learners want.
Protests turned ugly, with seven key buildings – including the main admin block – going up in flames. The cost to repair everything could hit between R300 million and R500 million, hitting the already cash-strapped university hard. But amid the chaos, there is a plan to get back to normal, with blended learning set to kick in from 27 October.
What Sparked the Protests and the Damage Caused
Students at Fort Hare’s Alice and East London campuses took to the streets last week, demanding big changes. Their list included calls for Student Representative Council (SRC) elections, which have been delayed, and the immediate resignation of Vice-Chancellor Professor Sakhela Buhlungu. They accused him of ignoring their needs, like better NSFAS allowances, improved housing, and fixing campus security.
Things got out of hand on 7 October when protesters started torching buildings. The admin block, labs, and other spots were hit, destroying research work and equipment worth millions. Scientists at the university are heartbroken – years of studies on important topics like health and environment went up in smoke. One researcher told media it felt like “a gut punch” to see labs ruined.
The violence did not stop there. Reports say some protests were taken over by outsiders or “criminal elements,” leading to more destruction. Police stepped in, arresting a few people, but the university had to close to keep everyone safe. All students were told to leave by 17:00 on 9 October, turning quiet campuses into ghost towns.
Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela slammed the acts as “criminal,” not real protests. He visited the site and promised classes would start again soon, warning that more delays could wreck the whole 2025 academic year.
Accusations of Political Meddling and a Looming SIU Report
Vice-Chancellor Buhlungu did not mince words about what he thinks is behind the unrest. He told reporters the protests were “sponsored” by people outside the university, maybe even politicians, to stop an upcoming Special Investigating Unit (SIU) report. This report allegedly names 33 high-ranking officials linked to fake qualifications from Fort Hare.
“This thing was sponsored,” Buhlungu said in an interview. He believes the timing is no accident – the report could drop soon, and some might want to cause chaos to derail it. The SIU has been probing academic fraud at the university for months, uncovering dodgy degrees given to powerful people.
Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Higher Education agrees something fishy is going on. They heard from university bosses that protests might have been hijacked by crooks, who may or may not be students. The committee plans more talks next week to dig deeper.
Groups like the South African Communist Party (SACP) and Universities South Africa have condemned the destruction. The SACP called for real talks to fix student gripes, while warning against burning down public buildings. “Protest is good, but arson and intimidation are not,” one opinion piece noted.
University’s Recovery Plan and Steps Forward
Fort Hare’s team is not sitting idle. They rolled out a Recovery Plan to the Senate and management, outlining how to fix damage and get back to teaching. Online classes start Monday, using platforms like Zoom and Moodle to keep lessons going. From 27 October, it will be a mix of online and in-person – blended learning – to ease everyone back.
Leaders are talking to student reps to sort out demands. “We hear you,” Buhlungu said, promising to tackle issues like SRC elections and better support. The university also got a court order to stop evicting students, giving more time for calm talks.
Minister Manamela pledged government help to rebuild, but stressed that learning must come first. “We can’t let violence win,” he said during his visit. The National Youth Development Agency echoed this, calling for peaceful chats instead of fights.
Impact on Students and the Community
For the 15,000-plus students at Fort Hare, this mess is a nightmare. Many come from poor backgrounds, relying on NSFAS for fees and food. Delays mean lost time and stress, with some worried about finishing the year. “We’ve trained our minds for exams, now what?” one learner posted online.
The Eastern Cape community feels it too. Fort Hare, founded in 1916, is a big deal – it trained leaders like Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo. Damage here hurts education in a province already struggling with jobs and services.
But there is hope. The university’s history of bouncing back from tough times – like apartheid struggles – shows it can recover. With government backing and student input, Fort Hare aims to come out stronger.
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