SRC president, Katleho Lechoo, tells OFM News they will now intensify the struggle to ensure that students fighting against financial exclusion are not victimised in the process. He says they are not happy that their demands have been met by the management of the university, and until such time they will not surrender. However, Lechoo refused to say if plans to shut down the University will go ahead, as previously indicated by the former SRC president Asive Dlanjwa.

“I think first and foremost we must be very happy that they have been released, of course. Now they will get an opportunity to go home and meet their families, parents, and friends and so on. But we will continue from our side to intensify the fight and find proper ground because we are not happy as our demands have not been met,” he adds.

The state’s prosecutor, Mthetho Kopa, did not oppose the bail application by students and the presiding Magistrate released all of them on warning, pending their re-appearance on 23 April 2021.

All 25 students were granted bail at no cost but they were released on warnings until they reappear on 23 April 2021. The case was postponed to allow for further police investigations. They face charges which include public violence and contravening the Road Traffic Act and the Gatherings Act. They were nabbed on Thursday after police received numerous complaints. The students have been protesting against financial exclusion and registration difficulties at the university. 

Scores of South African Students Congress (SASCO) and EFF Student Command (EFFSC) have gathered in their numbers on Friday to support their peers. The UFS spokesperson, Lacea Loader, previously told OFM News that “the executive management is committed to ensuring stability on campus and to the uninterrupted continuation of academic and administrative services and will continue to engage with students to find amicable solutions to matters that are of concern to them. It remains important that the 2021 academic year continues and that it is completed successfully".

OFM News