Getrude Makhafola and Lesego Masemola

Chaos broke out at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein after members of the South African Students Congress (Sasco) and the ANC Youth League went on the rampage yesterday, demanding the removal of vice-chancellor Prof Jonathan Jansen.

Police used rubber bullets to disperse the crowds and 60 protesters, including 20 who apparently offered themselves up voluntarily, were arrested and are due to appear in court today.

The protesters threw rubbish and burnt papers in front of the university’s buildings. They also attempted to disrupt classes while waiting to meet Jansen to address them and their grievances. They accused Jansen of being an “apartheid puppet” and claimed that the SRC at the campus was run by the Freedom Front Plus (FF+).

The protest was sparked by the university banning political activity on the campus and the university’s introduction of a new rule that prevents SRC candidates from standing for elections on a political ticket. Only independent candidates are now allowed to contest for the SRC.

The university says the decision was taken to curb continued racial conflict driven by political formations.

Jansen slammed the protest: “The UFS is worried about the thuggish behaviour by outside groups invading the university campus. An urgent interdict has been obtained and any further invasions by outside groups will lead to arrest,” he said in a statement.

The university claimed that the protesters were outsiders

and that UFS students were not involved.

Anna Lipheko, a political science student said they had only heard a “rumour” about a strike.

“We thought it was political and nothing to do with us students. We were shocked today to see groups of people disrupting classes without informing us students what was happening. We have nominations for the SRC elections underway and things are running smoothly on campus,” she said.

ANCYL chairperson in the province, Kgotso Morapela said they wanted to render the institution “ungovernable” should their demands not be met.

“Jansen did away with political parties such as the ANCYL on campus. Jansen is a puppet of apartheid, we want him gone. We have been saying that Jansen is one of our own, now we want to retract that statement wholly,” he said, addressing a gathering outside the campus’ main building.

Vuyo Huhu, also a member of the ANCYL’s executive in the province said the university first expelled Sandile Fuku who was the secretary of the party on campus. The university then “banned” the students’ parliament, he said.

Fuku, who is now continuing with his Phd in Biochemistry at Bloemfontein’s Central University of Technology, said it was “clear” that the university’s SRC was run by the FF+.

“They did away with political parties last year; the only political party on campus is theFF+. Where is the freedom of association in that? This is not fair,” he said.

SRC elections at UFS were cancelled last year after disruptions during inter-campus sporting event.

Since then Sasco has been at loggerheads with Jansen and students have been divided on whether there was a real need for political formations on the campus.