Wits obtains court order
BRAAMFONTEIN – Wits obtained a court order to protect students, staff and visitors and to prevent damage to the university's property.
Wits University obtained an interim court order on 15 January from the South Gauteng High Court to ensure the safety of its students, staff and visitors after the recent protests.
Additional security was also deployed to ensure safety of people on campus and to protect the university’s property.
According to a statement from the Wits senior executive team, the court order prevents anybody from the following:
- Unlawfully occupying Senate House or any other offices, buildings, facilities or lecture halls
- Disrupting the normal activities of the University including registration, classes, lectures or tutorials
- Obstructing or preventing any person from entering or leaving the university or any of the buildings and facilities
- Causing damage to property
- Participating in, calling for, inciting or encouraging unlawful behaviour
- Harassing, intimidating, threatening or assaulting any person on campus and being in possession of any dangerous weapons including knives, sticks or the like.
Wits senior executive spokesperson Kemantha Govender said the order empowers the university to request police assistance if needed.
She added the university recognises and supports the call for access to affordable, quality higher education and welcomes the ministerial commission that has been established to further explore this proposal.
“The university respects students’ rights to lawful protest and the rights of those who wish to learn and work. This interim interdict does not stop legitimate protest,” the statement said.
Govender said Wits has made significant compromises in regards to concession just as the Government has.
“Wits removed the major financial barrier to registration by delaying the first payment for those who could not afford it,” the statement continued.
The statement concluded that Wits remains open and willing to engage with students, staff, parents, alumni and anyone who has any issues of concern.
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