They were arrested at the CUT Welkom Campus earlier this week for protesting– contravening a court interdict. The police spokesperson, Motantshi Makhele, says the case against the suspects was postponed to 21 April 2020 for further investigation.

The suspects are aged between 22 and 24. They include one male and 7 females. Makhele confirmed that the students started to protest after a Students Representative Council (SRC) member was suspended by the institution for allegedly submitting a fraudulent medical certificate.

CUT spokesperson, Dan Maritz, in a response to OFM News’ questions says the eight suspects arrested are not verified to confirm them as students. He further says the management and students reached an agreement that the academic programme on that campus will continue. There were also allegations on social media that eight SRC members of this campus resigned this week. Maritz says, however, the registrar did not receive any official resignation of some SRC members, as allegedly stated on social media.

OFM News previously reported that at least 60 CUT students at the Bloemfontein campus were arrested by the police late last month. They were released on R1000 bail each in the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court. The spokesperson of the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) in the Free State, Phaladi Shuping, said they were granted strict bail conditions. Their case was postponed to 31 March 2020. They will all face a charge of public violence.

OFM News