20 individuals arrested on the Wits University campus
Twenty students appear in the Hillbrow Magistrates' Court.
About 20 individuals arrested at Wits University will appear in the Hillbrow Magistrates’ Court today for violating a court order obtained by the university earlier this year.
Spokesperson of the Hillbrow Police Station Sergeant Mduduzi Zondo said, “The 20 individuals were released on a warning and they will appear today in the Hillbrow Magistrates’ Court on individual charges.”
1/7 About 14 individuals were arrested on campus today for violating a court interdict obtained by the University earlier this year.
— Wits University (@WitsUniversity) February 19, 2016
The university said that some of these individuals, not all of whom are students, have been involved in a number of unlawful activities on the campuses in recent days. These criminal activities include the alleged unlawful occupation of the Senate House Concourse, attempted arson, malicious damage to property, the alleged burning of one of the Wits University buses and the setting alight of a mattress at the back of a library and the vandalising of university property.
“The safety and security of the staff, students and visitors to our campuses is paramount and the university was left with no choice but to have these individuals arrested as they posed a threat to the 33 000 students and 5 000 staff on our campuses,” said the Senior Executive Team of Wits University.
The university said that in line with their rules, policies and procedures, some members of the group, may also be suspended or barred from the campuses. There are some that argue that the university is criminalising protests and Wits University said that this is completely untrue. “The activities that we have witnessed in recent days are criminal, and we are responding accordingly. As a university we cannot tolerate criminal acts on our campuses,” said the Senior Executive Team.
4/7 Others who have been involved in aiding & abetting these criminal activities on campus will also be held accountable for their actions.
— Wits University (@WitsUniversity) February 19, 2016
The Senior Executive Team confirms that there are others who have been involved in aiding and abetting these criminal activities on campus and they will also be held accountable for their actions.
The Senior Executive Team said that additional security has been used given the incidents that have occurred in the last two days and that the university has no option but to once again deploy a strong security contingent throughout their campuses, including on their bus routes. This once again redirects resources away from where they are needed most such as accommodation, food and support for needy students.
7/7 The safety and security of our staff, students and visitors to the campus remains paramount.
— Wits University (@WitsUniversity) February 19, 2016
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