A Cry for Life: The Unfolding Crisis at the University of the Free State What began as a fight for the right to education, in a matter of days, became a fight for life itself. This is the harsh reality students at the University of the Free State (UFS) are facing this week. A policy change, announced by the university and set to take effect in 2026, has sparked a wave of peaceful protests that were met with a violent police response, leaving students injured, traumatised, and fearing for their s