More protests against former Free State students

By Ofentse Mokae
24 October 2009

The African National Congress in the Free State and it alliance partners will picket at the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court during the crimen injuria trial of the Reitz Four on Monday.

The four former University of the Free State students have to answer for their actions after making a mock initiation video in which women workers were humiliated.

Free State ANC spokesperson Teboho Sikisi says a protest march is being planned to the university on Friday.

This follows an announcement by new rector Jonathan Jansen that the university had pardoned the students.

Many have since the announcement by the rector expressed their displeasure in the university’s decision.

Following cabinet’s weekly meeting, government spokesperson Themba Maseko said Cabinet expressed strong displeasure with Professor Jonathan Jansen’s decision to drop the internal charges that the university had instituted against the students who humiliated the workers at the institution.

“The process that led to the dropping of the charges was flawed in that it did not follow the established norm of getting the perpetrators to admit guilt, to apologise to the victims before any charges could be dropped and to initiate a reconciliation process,” Maseko said in a statement.

He said cabinet would be the first among those who promote reconciliation in order to take our country forward.

“However, reconciliation involves both parties moving towards one another and must include some indication of remorse on the part of the perpetrators,” Maseko added.

It has been reported that Jansen stands by his widely criticised decision.