The Outbreak of Protests at Nelson Mandela University

On February 12, 2026, tensions boiled over at Nelson Mandela University (NMU) in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, South Africa, when a group of approximately 30 students blockaded the entrances to the North and South campuses. Burning tires and makeshift barricades halted access for staff and other students, disrupting the early days of the 2026 academic year. This action marked the beginning of what would become a multi-day standoff, highlighting deep-seated frustrations among students over systemic barriers to higher education access.

NMU, a prominent public university serving around 33,000 students, has long grappled with resource constraints typical of South Africa's higher education landscape. The institution boasts an on-campus residence capacity of just 5,340 beds, despite receiving over 22,763 applications for the 2026 year—a demand exceeding supply by more than fourfold. These protests were not spontaneous but built on months of unresolved grievances communicated to university management.

Chronology of the Clashes and Escalation

The sequence of events unfolded rapidly. Protests ignited early on February 12 as students, many affiliated with groups like the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Student Command and the Pan Africanist Student Movement of Azania (PASMA), erected barriers using debris and ignited tires to draw attention to their plight. By midday, private security personnel, supplemented by the South African Police Service (SAPS), responded to stone-throwing by protesters with rubber bullets, paintball pellets, and nylon projectiles.

• February 12 morning: Entrances blocked at North and South campuses; tires burned, barricades erected.
• Midday escalation: Security fires rubber bullets after stones hurled; smoke fills the air, multiple injuries reported.
• One student shot with rubber bullet, briefly detained in police vehicle before release amid demands.
• February 13: NMU secures urgent interim interdict from Eastern Cape High Court prohibiting disruptions.
• February 14: Protests enter third day; private security continues presence.
• February 16: Calm restored; academic activities resume after suspensions.

By February 17, temporary housing solutions were offered to affected students, signaling a fragile de-escalation.

Security Response and Reported Injuries

The deployment of rubber bullets—a non-lethal crowd control measure consisting of hardened rubber projectiles fired at lower velocities—intensified the confrontation. Videos captured students being hit, with brown water sprays and teargas also used. Protesters reported multiple injuries, though exact numbers remain unconfirmed beyond 'several' cases. One notable incident involved a student extracted from a police van after being shot.

NMU spokesperson Zandile Ngwendu emphasized that while the right to protest is respected, actions infringing on others' safety or academic rights are unacceptable.NMU Official Update The university had registered nearly 30,000 students by February 12, underscoring the scale of disruption to the majority.

Unpacking the Demands: NSFAS, Registration, and Housing

At the heart lie intertwined issues. The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), South Africa's primary bursary program for low-income students, faced delays in 2026 approvals, appeals, and clearances. Students reported rejection messages preventing registration, despite household incomes qualifying under the R350,000 threshold (now with 'missing middle' loans up to R600,000).

Registration woes included online system glitches and exclusions for unpaid fees, with calls to extend deadlines to April. Accommodation shortages exacerbated this: NSFAS caps on off-campus rents left many homeless, forcing some to sleep in lecture halls. Additional demands covered transport shuttles and meal allowances.

Students like EFF's Meluleki Ncane highlighted no plan for unfunded first-years.

Photo by Bornil Amin on Unsplash

NMU's Response: Dialogue, Security, and Legal Measures

NMU engaged the Students' Representative Council (SRC) prior, addressing some demands while considering others. Institutional financial concessions—debt acknowledgments waiving upfront fees—were curtailed for first-years due to NSFAS changes. Temporary on-campus spots were allocated to those finalizing funding.

A High Court interdict on February 13 barred road blockages, non-academic entries, and disruptions, with opposition due by March 3. Campuses reopened under heightened security.Daily Maverick Report For career support amid such uncertainties, explore higher education career advice resources.

Stakeholder Perspectives: Students vs. Administration

Student leader Olwethu Gwelana described peaceful sitting met with force: "Students sat down and lifted their hands... They sprayed students with brown water." PASMA criticized outsourcing security over dialogue.

NMU maintained prior engagements and condemned intimidation. The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education visited NMU to assess 2026 readiness, focusing on capacity amid national shortfalls.

South Africa's Broader Higher Education Crisis

NMU's turmoil mirrors national strains. With 650,000 successful 2025 matriculants, only 535,000 first-year spots exist; NSFAS faces a R14 billion shortfall, funding ~520,000 of 600,000 applicants. Participation hovers at 22% vs. 30% target. Universities reject ~500,000 eligible students annually due to funding gaps.

In Eastern Cape, oversight committees scrutinize readiness. Link to opportunities: Check university jobs in South Africa.

Echoes of Past Protests: From Fees Must Fall to Today

These events evoke 2015-2017 #FeesMustFall protests, where rubber bullets and clashes demanded free education. While NSFAS zeroed fees for poor students post-2018, implementation flaws—delays, exclusions—persist, fueling recurrent unrest at institutions like Fort Hare and others.

Photo by Bornil Amin on Unsplash

Academic and Personal Impacts

Lectures halted, first-years derailed. Long-term: Delayed graduations affect employability. Amid this, platforms like Rate My Professor help navigate academics, while higher ed jobs offer post-grad paths.

Towards Solutions: Reforms and Outlook

Proposals include NSFAS digitization for faster processing, expanded accredited off-campus housing, public-private partnerships for beds, and extended registration windows. Government urges appeals by January 14. Optimism lies in committee interventions and NMU's concessions.

Future: With budget pressures, sustainable funding models essential. Aspiring students, visit university jobs and career advice for resilience. In conclusion, dialogue over force paves resolution; explore higher-ed-jobs, rate-my-professor, higher-ed-career-advice.