The University of Fort Hare is working to restore normal operations after violent student protests this week forced the institution to suspend in-person classes and shift to online learning. The university has confirmed that academic activities are continuing remotely, even as management deals with the aftermath of the unrest and engages in efforts to stabilise the situation.
According to a university spokesperson, leadership remains focused on ensuring continuity of the academic programme, repairing damaged infrastructure, and returning the university to a state of normalcy as soon as possible.
Student protests at the University of Fort Hare escalated into chaos earlier this week, leading to the torching of two campus buildings. The cost of the damages is currently estimated to be between R250 million and R500 million, placing a heavy burden on the institution’s already strained resources.
The demonstrations, led by student groups, reportedly stem from dissatisfaction with the university’s decision to appoint an interim Student Representative Council (SRC) president. The move followed the suspension of the previous SRC president — a decision that many students viewed as unjust and lacking transparency.
University of Fort Hare Prioritises Academic Continuity After Campus Disruptions
But that’s not the only issue students are raising. Protesters have also expressed their discontent with the management style and leadership of Vice-Chancellor Professor Sakhela Buhlungu. Calls for his resignation or for significant changes to university governance have grown louder in recent weeks, fueling the intensity of the demonstrations.
As on-campus learning became unsafe due to the protests and damage, the university swiftly transitioned to online learning to prevent a total academic shutdown. The shift ensures that students can continue with their coursework and avoid disruption to the academic calendar.
Fort Hare spokesperson JP Roodt said that the university’s immediate focus is on ensuring academic continuity through virtual platforms while assessing the damage and planning a recovery strategy.
“The priority now is continuity, firstly with the academic learning programme which is being implemented through online learning, and then the disaster recovery plan and ways for us to normalise the institution,” said Roodt.
The university has urged students to remain calm and participate in online academic activities while discussions with student representatives and other stakeholders are ongoing.
While online learning offers a temporary solution, it presents several challenges. Many students at the University of Fort Hare come from under-resourced communities where access to reliable internet, devices, or quiet study environments may be limited.
Student leaders argue that this digital divide puts some learners at a significant disadvantage and risks deepening inequalities in access to education. They are calling for immediate solutions, including increased data support and access to university-provided digital resources.
Staff members have also been impacted, with many forced to adapt quickly to virtual teaching platforms. While most lecturers are experienced in remote teaching due to previous COVID-19-related disruptions, the sudden switch still places additional pressure on teaching and administrative staff.
The leadership of Vice-Chancellor Sakhela Buhlungu has come under renewed scrutiny during this crisis. Some students and staff claim his management style is too authoritarian, and that decisions are often made without adequate consultation.
This is not the first time Buhlungu has faced controversy. In the past, he has been at the centre of both praise and criticism for his efforts to tackle corruption and mismanagement at the university. While some see him as a reformist trying to clean up institutional rot, others feel his approach has created divisions and alienated parts of the university community.
The latest protests underscore the urgent need for inclusive dialogue between university management, students, and staff. The stability of the University of Fort Hare — one of South Africa’s oldest and most historically significant institutions — may depend on it.
In response to the unrest, university management is calling for calm and urging students to return to the negotiating table. Meetings with student leaders are reportedly underway to address concerns and find common ground.
The University of Fort Hare has reiterated its commitment to free and fair student representation, transparency in governance, and student well-being. However, officials maintain that violent protest and destruction of property cannot be tolerated under any circumstances.
As the institution implements its disaster recovery and academic continuity plans, all eyes are on how swiftly the leadership can restore peace, rebuild infrastructure, and regain the trust of its student body.
The University of Fort Hare faces a critical test — one that involves more than just repairing burned buildings or restoring academic schedules. It must also repair fractured relationships, restore institutional credibility, and reaffirm its commitment to excellence, equity, and democratic engagement.
As students continue with online learning, and management works behind the scenes to resolve the crisis, the future of the university hangs in the balance — a future that will depend not just on infrastructure but on inclusive, accountable leadership.
Source- EWN
