UFS spokesperson, Lacea Loader, says students who have been served with disciplinary notices for their alleged involvement in the Varsity Cup rugby match incident at Shimla Park in February, will not stop the disciplinary hearings by their deliberate absence.

This comes after a number of students were issued with charge sheets for their alleged involvement in assaulting protestors who disrupted a rugby match between the Shimlas and Madibaz in February. Protestors involved in acts of vandalism and misconduct during a subsequent five day period of unrest at the Bloemfontein Campus have also received notices.

Meanwhile, AfriForum Youth has criticised the University for not following the correct procedure in informing students that they were being charged with assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and inciting violence.

Morné Mostert says AfriForum Youth has seen the notices given to students. He says the letters state that the students are guilty of assault, implying that the university has already found the students guilty.

If you clearly look at the wording on the disciplinary notices set by the UFS, it does not state that the students will be charged with assault with intent to do grievously bodily harm. It explicitly states that a student is guilty of an offence to do grievously bodily harm. In Mostert’s view this is unconstitutional and against the Law of Natural Justice, which states a person has the right to put their case before a committee before they are found guilty of an offence.

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