Campus Student Representative Council 02 August 2023

Dear Student,

Please find update for your urgent attention:

e-Zaga:
The SRC has noted the anger and frustrations from the student populace
regarding the issues we are faced with due to e-Zaga. There have been multiple
attempts made on the end of the SRC to engage the relevant stakeholders for
intervention with regards to all e-Zaga issues, however, all the requests made
have fallen onto deaf ears. Understanding that we are a voice of the students, the
SRC together with the ISRC sent communication to the officials of e-Zaga, as well
as the management of the University of the Free State. The SRC requested to
have a meeting and share all the grievances and challenges the student populace
has been faced with since the introduction of e-Zaga on our campus and further
made a request for these officials to come and resolve these issues physically. No
confirmation has been made to us thus far, we are disgusted by the level of
nonchalance from e-Zaga while students are waiting for assistance.
As an interim solution, the SRC has made a request to management for nutritional
and sanitary support for the students who require it. Although this request was
rejected, the SRC is exhausting all methods to find means to further assist the
students as we understand that majority of our students have not received their
allowances. As the SRC, we profusely apologize for this inconvenience and
understand all your frustrations.

205 Nelson Mandela Drive | Park West, Bloemfontein 9301 | South Africa
P.O. Box 339 | Bloemfontein 9300 | South Africa | www.ufs.ac.za
Protest:
On the 2nd of August 2023, there was a protest on campus due to the frustrations
caused by e-Zaga. Due to the nature of the protest, the University made
communication to move classes online from today, the 2nd of August 2023 until
the 4th of August 2023 and the faculties will make further communication. The
SRC notes and fully understands the reason for the protest and fully supports the
stance taken by the student populace and the cause behind it, our students and
all their needs are of paramount importance to us! We are of the view that had
management intervened earlier and NSFAS alongside e-Zaga, together attempted
to meet us halfway when we had submitted inputs to reject this system, things
would have not gotten to this point. We are fully behind our masses, however, we
do not condone the violence occurring during the protests because it endangers
the lives of our students.
Due to the violent outbreaks during the protest, the University brought on law
enforcement and thus having the protest leading to several arrests. The SRC, with
the help of the office of Student Affairs will provide all the necessary support to the
arrested students. In these tough and trying times, the SRC would like to request
that we stand together as the students of the University of the Free State and
continue to fight against the injustices we are faced with. The SRC would like to
pass its heartfelt gratitude to the students for their unison and bravery today,
today was an example of what we can achieve when we work together.

NOTHING FOR US, WITHOUT US!

Issued on behalf of the Campus Student Representative Council BFN

Campus.

205 Nelson Mandela Drive | Park West, Bloemfontein 9301 | South Africa
P.O. Box 339 | Bloemfontein 9300 | South Africa | www.ufs.ac.za