HILLBROW – Case against Wits students postponed for further investigation.
The case against two of the 11 University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) students arrested over the weekend for public violence has been postponed until next month, at the Hillbrow Magistrates’ Court.
The two appeared in court on 17 October following their arrest. The two students are set to return to court on 2 November for a decision from the Director of Public Prosecutions on whether to move forward with the case or not.
Speaking outside the court, Wits Student Representative Council secretary general, Fasiha Hassan, said,”The two had been arrested late last Thursday/early Friday and were released on free bail over the weekend before appearing today in court and there has, in fact, been an indication from the magistrate that the state does not have sufficient evidence to charge or prosecute them.
“The two will return to court next month, just to ensure that no evidence has come forward until then, but we are confident that these are bogus charges, which will probably be thrown out.”
Wits students sing outside the Hillbrow Magistrates’ Court.
She also spoke of the arrest of nine other people, three of whom are Wits students, who were also set to make an appearance in court after they were caught in last week’s crossfire during the ongoing protests.
Hassan further questioned the recent arrests made and the alleged confusion surrounding the students’ dockets, labelling this as an attempt to delay the process.
“We’re disappointed by the work of the police and the National Prosecuting Authority and we view this as a clear and delayed attempt to keep students in jail,” she said.
Meanwhile, speaking about former SRC leader, Mcebo Dlamini’s recent court appearance, which was postponed at the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court to 18 October, Hassan also labelled it as an attempt to further delay the process.
According to reports, eight more people arrested were since released and the matter postponed to November.
