{"id":6998,"date":"2025-05-23T10:28:49","date_gmt":"2025-05-23T08:28:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/?p=6998"},"modified":"2026-03-12T10:35:53","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T08:35:53","slug":"campus-unrest-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/campus-unrest-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Are Our Campuses Safe? Unpacking the Unrest at South African Universities"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Campus unrest<\/strong> has once again gripped South African universities in 2025, raising urgent questions about student safety, academic stability, and institutional accountability. Student protests, financial aid delays, and security concerns have disrupted learning environments across the country. As tensions grow from Gauteng to KwaZulu-Natal, many are asking a critical question: <strong>Are our campuses truly safe?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This article takes a deep dive into the latest developments, student perspectives, and what authorities are doing to <a href=\"https:\/\/news.uj.ac.za\/news\/universities-fight-to-keep-campuses-safe-in-the-face-of-rising-crime-threats-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">restore<\/a> safety and order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>ALSO READ: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/a-complete-guide-to-universities-in-gauteng-courses-fees-rankings\/\">A Complete Guide to Universities in Gauteng \u2013 Courses, Fees &amp; Rankings<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-south-african-universities-are-facing-unrest-in-2025\"><strong>Why South African Universities Are Facing Unrest in 2025<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The 2025 academic year started with disruption at several major institutions, including the University of Johannesburg (UJ), the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), and the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-key-drivers-of-the-unrest-include\">Key drivers of the unrest include:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Delays in NSFAS funding disbursements<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Student accommodation shortages<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Unresolved historical debt is preventing registration<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Calls for free and decolonised education<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Heavy-handed security and police presence on campuses<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Students have voiced growing frustration with the slow administrative processes and lack of financial support. For many, access to education remains a daily struggle. Campus <a href=\"https:\/\/www.up.ac.za\/department-of-security-services\/article\/23390\/safety-on-campus\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">protests<\/a> have frequently turned tense, with reports of stun grenades, arrests, and clashes between students and law enforcement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-1155419166\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Are Students Demanding?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>At the centre of the <strong>campus unrest<\/strong> are students who feel let down by the system. \u201cIt\u2019s not just about funding\u2014it\u2019s about dignity,\u201d said Sipho Dlamini, a student at Wits. \u201cWe\u2019re being treated like criminals for wanting what should be a basic right: affordable, quality education in a safe environment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Across South Africa, students are uniting in response to the <strong>campus unrest<\/strong>, forming protest groups and initiating conversations about systemic change. These movements have taken shape both on the ground and online, with social media playing a pivotal role in mobilising support. Hashtags like <strong>#CampusShutdown<\/strong>, <strong>#NSFASFail<\/strong>, and <strong>#EducationCrisis2025<\/strong> have trended on X (formerly Twitter), highlighting the emotional and political weight of this year\u2019s <strong>campus unrest<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Response from Universities and Government<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In response to the growing tension, the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) has pledged to fast-track NSFAS payments and improve communication between institutions and students. Some universities have brought in additional support staff to address registration issues and mental health services have been expanded on several campuses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, critics argue that these efforts are reactive rather than proactive. \u201cWe need systemic change, not temporary solutions,\u201d says Professor Lerato Mahlangu, an education policy expert. \u201cThe funding model, student housing crisis, and safety concerns need long-term, sustainable reforms.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-2917548851\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Is Campus Safety at Risk?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Beyond funding and administrative challenges, <strong>campus unrest<\/strong> has also raised serious concerns about physical safety. At several institutions, students report feeling unsafe. This is often due to the presence of heavily armed security personnel and inconsistent enforcement of campus rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Parents are alarmed too. Many say they feel anxious about sending their children to campuses marked by violence and tension. In some cases, protests have disrupted academic programmes. This has affected exam schedules and delayed graduation timelines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>University spokespersons have assured the public that measures are being taken. They say they\u2019re working with local police and private security to restore order. However, the balance between ensuring safety and respecting student rights remains delicate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Lies Ahead for SA Universities?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The unrest at South African universities in 2025 is not a new phenomenon, but it signals deeper systemic issues that continue to go unresolved. Students are not simply protesting; they are calling for transformative change in how higher education is funded, delivered, and governed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As we look ahead, real progress will depend on honest dialogue, policy reform, and collaborative efforts between government, institutions, and student bodies. For now, the question remains painfully relevant: <strong>Are our campuses safe?<\/strong> And if not, what are we doing to fix it?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Campus unrest has once again gripped South African universities in 2025, raising urgent questions about student safety, academic stability, and institutional accountability. Student protests, financial aid delays, and security concerns have disrupted learning environments across the country. As tensions grow from Gauteng to KwaZulu-Natal, many are asking a critical question: Are our campuses truly safe?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":7000,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_focus_keyword":"","rank_math_title":"","rank_math_description":"Campus unrest has once again gripped South African universities in 2025, raising urgent questions about student safety, academic stability, and institutional...","footnotes":""},"categories":[1762],"tags":[219],"class_list":{"0":"post-6998","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-education-education","8":"tag-gauteng-universities"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6998","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6998"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6998\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7021,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6998\/revisions\/7021"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7000"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6998"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6998"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6998"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}