Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) Professior Adam Habib announced the verdict of the students charged for the disruption of a concert by musician Yossi Reshef on its campus last year.
“Ten students have been found guilty of misconduct for disrupting or inciting others to disrupt the piano recital. They have been excluded from the university for a period of one year,” Habib announced.
“The sentence is suspended, provided that the students are not found guilty of any other form of misconduct for a period of two years. These students will not be allowed to hold any office in any student governance structure for a period of one year,” he added.
In addition, the students will each have to perform 80 hours of community service, as determined by the university.
“One of these students has further been found guilty of not obeying a lawful instruction issued by a university employee, and will be required to perform an additional 50 hours of community service for this offence.”
Habib said the verdict was handed to the university by an independent advocate today on 17 January.
“The Senior Counsel was appointed in terms of the university’s Rules for Student Discipline to act in lieu of a Student Discipline Committee, to chair the disciplinary hearing, to carry out all of its functions and to exercise all its powers in line with the university’s policies, procedures and processes.”
The professor explained that Wits allows for freedom of expression, provided that it doesn’t conflict with the limitations stipulated in the university’s constitution.
“The university provides a platform for different constituencies to express their views and opinions through considered debate and intellectual engagement in the spirit of tolerance, respect and openness.”
