Former University of the Free State vice-chancellor Professor Frederick Fourie on Wednesday said the Freedom Front Plus frustrated his efforts to integrate the institution's residences.

He stepped down last year, partly because of the stress caused by the furore his move created.

His comments come after his successor Jonathan Jansen has been strongly criticised for pardoning the four former students from a student residence who made a racist video which showed black cleaners taking part in humiliating mock initiation tasks, including eating meat which had apparently been urinated on.

Fourie said he came up with a careful plan to integrate the institution's residences but was the victim of a political campaign by the FF Plus.

"So they were very much behind mobilising the opposition to integration on the grounds that they were losing their way of life and the residence culture."

He said they had strong support in their campaign.

"Well I think we under estimated how strong the resistance of the alumni and parents [would be]."

During his inaugural address two weeks ago Jansen said the university's community should take some of the blame for the Reitz hostel video.

The hostel has since been turned into a centre for reconciliation.