Stellenbosch students released on bail

By Mikhaila Crowie
20 March 2009

Four students were identified and arrested in connection with the assault of a black student at the University of Stellenbosch earlier this month.

Gino Gattardo, Kyle Wright, Morné Dormehl and Jack du Toit appeared in court and were released on bail.

Stellenbosch police said the motive of the attack is still not known.

Captain Rene Matthee said the student was beaten, kicked and strangled.

A stranger came and rescued him.

“After thorough investigation by the Stellenbosch detectives, the suspects were identified and arrested on Monday the 16th of March.”

Meanwhile the rector of Stellenbosch University Professor Russel Botman says the institution will not tolerate any form of racism.

Various meetings have taken place between the management of the university and the local police.

Botman says the university will persist in its campaign to root out racism.

Media Liason for the University, Mohamed Shaikh suspected that the incident had “racial undertones”.

“We're not exactly sure, we doing our own investigations at the moment and obviously we will make our judgement based on the investigation but we will also look at what is coming out in the court case.”