We, the undersigned students and concerned citizens, call on University of the Free State Vice-Chancellor Professor Hester C. Klopper to reverse the decision to remove provisional registration. This policy has unfairly excluded financially struggling and self-funded students, deepening inequality and preventing access to education for many deserving learners.

Education is a right, not a privilege for those who can pay immediately.

Under the recent decision to remove provisional registration, many students at the University of the Free State have been denied the chance to continue or begin their studies due to financial hardship. For countless students from poverty-stricken or self-funded backgrounds, provisional registration was the only way to access education while arranging financial support.

 

In South Africa’s current economic reality, where unemployment and inequality remain severe, this decision has pushed vulnerable students out of the system and worsened the cycle of poverty. It has stripped away opportunity from those who depend on education the most.

When students voiced their concerns through peaceful shutdowns, they were met with police force instead of dialogue, further damaging trust between the student body and university leadership.

 

We therefore call on Professor Hester C. Klopper and the UFS Executive Management to:

 

1. Immediately reinstate provisional registration.

2. Engage in open consultation with student representatives before implementing policies that directly affect access to education.

3. Publicly reaffirm UFS’s commitment to inclusivity, fairness, and transformation (values that should guide all decisions affecting students).

This petition is not an act of hostility,  it is a call for compassion, accountability, and leadership that puts students first.

We urge Professor Klopper to reconsider this decision and restore hope to the thousands of UFS students who simply want the chance to learn and build a better future.

 

Disclaimer:

This petition is an expression of public concern by students and community members. It is based on publicly available information and lived experiences at the University of the Free State. The purpose of this petition is to call for accountability and constructive change, not to defame or personally attack any individual. All statements reflect the opinions and experiences of the signatories and are made in good faith, within the right to freedom of expression guaranteed under Section 16 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996.