The Potch Herald reports 5000 m South African athletics champion, 22-year-old Thabang Mosiako, who’s set to compete in Algeria next month, was attacked in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Mosiako, a Boston College student and a Nedbank runner, was beaten unconscious.

His friend, Rantso Mokopane, who was also involved in the incident, says Mosiako was kicked and head-bashed on the ground by about ten students, allegedly from the North West University. He also took to Facebook to lament what he called a racist attack.

Police spokesperson, Adel Myburgh, confirmed there was a violent incident after RAG celebrations at about 03:00 and that the student sustained head injuries.

According to NWU’s Louis Jacobs, it has not been confirmed that the students were from Pukke, but the university condemns any attack on human rights. Jacobs stressed that the incident took place off campus.

Myburgh said that she cannot confirm if arrests have been made yet.

“Two groups of students were involved in a fight during the annual RAG celebrations in Potchefstroom,” said Myburgh.

“That is all I know at this stage and obviously the investigation will indicate to us who the suspect is and so forth,” she continued.

According to Jacobs, RAG celebrations bring an influx of young people from all over the country. However, students are made aware that should an incident that undermines anyone’s human rights occur it should be brought to the university’s attention.

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