Students awarded interdict against UJ
JOBURG - Students of the University of Johannesburg who filed an interdict against the university have won the case.
This means that the suspended students will be allowed to register and attend lectures, pending their disciplinary hearing. The interdict was filed to force the university to allow the suspended students to register and attend lectures. The 20 students, who originally appeared in court on 7 February, had been arrested and suspended after they took part in a protest outside the university on 27 January over the lack of funds from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme.
Following their arrest and suspension for their involvement in the protest, students approached the High Court in an attempt to force the university to allow them to register.
According to Tebogo Mokoena, a leader of the South African Students’ Congress, some of the students suspended by the university allegedly did not take part in the protest yet were arrested because of their role in student leadership.
Professor Tinyiko Maluleke, deputy vice-chancellor said, “The university does not and did not suspend or temporarily prohibit the registration of any students other than the 20 mentioned.”
He also reiterated the university’s position, saying the suspended students would be given an opportunity to defend their actions during disciplinary hearings that would be held soon. The date for the disciplinary hearings is yet to be announced by the university.
