UFS: Names withheld for safety

2008-02-27 18:31

Verashni Pillay

Bloemfontein - The names of the students from the University of the Free State (UFS) responsible for a racially offensive video were not being released on Wednesday for their safety.

University spokesperson Lacea Loader told News24 that the names of the four students who made the video showing black workers' dignity being violated, would not be released while the university proceeded with pressing charges against them.

This is despite the fact that two of the students were clearly visible in the widely-circulated video and in media articles.

Student organisation Sasco's deputy secretary-general, Biko Mathe, said he understood that names could not be released for legal reasons, but that "in this case, the video identifies them".

The video surfaced on Tuesday, but was made last year in September and included footage of a group of black workers eating meat that had been urinated on.

Arrested students released

Mathe said: "Their names must be released, they must be known to students because what they have done is a public disgrace to students."

Loader said she did not know what degrees the four had been studying or where they were from.

A UFS student said fellow house-mates of the students from Reitz Hostel, where the video was made, were unlikely to release the names of the students to protect them.

"They are the ones who would be able to identify the students, but they won't release the names," said the student.

A court order prohibits students from gathering at Reitz Hostel.

Earlier on Wednesday, five students were arrested for allegedly doing so, but have since been released.

In a memorandum handed to management on Wednesday morning, workers' union Nehawu demanded that the hostel be closed.

- News24