Reitz four await trial date

2008-09-05 12:42

Verashni Pillay

Bloemfontein - Three of the four former University of the Free State (UFS) students, whose mock initiation video caused an international outcry, appeared in court on Friday, court officials said.

RC Malherbe, Johnny Roberts and Schalk van der Merwe appeared in the Bloemfontein District Court, where the matter was postponed to October 10 for a trial date to be decided, their lawyer said.

Nico Naude from Honey Attorneys told News24 it had been postponed "for various reasons", but could not reveal more.

Court officials said it had been postponed for further investigation.

The three first appeared in court on August 15, when the matter was postponed to September 5.

The four former Reitz hostel residents face a charge of crimen injuria.

Fourth in Namibia

The fourth accused, Danie Grobler, was not in court on Friday, or on the previous court date. Naude said he was in Namibia. It is expected that his case will be joined with the others' before the start of the trial.

The video, of a mock initiation of five black staff members into hostel activities, sparked a national and international outcry, Sapa reported. It featured black university employees on their knees eating food which had apparently been urinated on by a white student.

In the video, students referred to the university's integration policy for campus residences, which was announced in 2007 and implemented this year.

It was reported that the four women and one male worker who can be seen in the video would also testify in court.

The UFS closed the doors of Reitz at the end of July as a result of the video, saying the building would house an institute for diversity.

- News24