Parliament, Wednesday, 8 October 2025 – The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education has strongly condemned the ongoing violent student protests at the University of Fort Hare, citing concerns over the disruption to academic activities and damage to university property.
The committee is deeply troubled by reports that students are demanding urgent student elections by the end of October and are also calling for the immediate resignation of Vice-Chancellor Professor Sakhela Buhlungu, who they accuse of collapsing the university’s governance systems. Equally disturbing for the committee is that there are messages that university management has suspended elected student leaders and replaced them with their own appointed leaders.
Committee Chairperson Mr Tebogo Letsie said the University of Fort Hare, as a historically disadvantaged institution, cannot afford the continued instability caused by frequent and disruptive protests. “While the right to protest is protected, the level of violence and destruction is unacceptable and detrimental to the university’s reputation and the students’ education,” he added.
The committee urgently calls upon the university’s senior management to prioritise open communication and engage in meaningful dialogue with student leaders and all affected stakeholders to address the root causes of the unrest. “These protests are occurring at a critical time when students should be focused on their examinations and must be addressed immediately,” added Mr Letsie.
The committee calls upon all parties to find a peaceful and constructive resolution to the crisis to ensure the academic year is not further compromised by disruptive strikes.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING, MR TEBOGO LETSIE.
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