UFS rector apologises to workers

2008-02-27 19:30

Bloemfontein - Attorneys have been instructed to formulate criminal charges against four students involved in making a racist video demeaning four workers, the University of the Free State (UFS) announced on Wednesday.

This comes after the UFS on Tuesday barred two of the four students from the Reitz men's residence from access to the campus.

"The other two students who can be seen in the video have since completed their studies and were no longer on campus," UFS spokesperson Anton Fisher said.

He said the internal disciplinary procedures of the university must take its course.

The rector, Professor Frederick Fourie, on Wednesday again condemned the video and the gross violation of human rights that it portrayed and promised to deal "swiftly and firmly" with the matter.

Apologised face to face

Fisher said Fourie personally met the workers shown on the video and apologised to them face to face.

"Counselling was being arranged for the workers."

The university suspended student classes on Wednesday afternoon in a "proactive step" to allow the emotions of staff and students to calm down.

Fisher said that although a protest march by hundreds of staff and students during the morning proceeded peacefully, there had been sporadic incidents of intimidation and damage to property.

Five students were arrested by police, but released later in the day.

Classes to resume

Fisher said classes would resume on Thursday.

The university plans to respond as soon as possible to the demands of student organisations and two trade unions, Nehawu and UVPERSU, who handed memorandums to management.

The Reitz residence committee in the meantime expressed its disgust with media reports on the video, which was made in September 2007.

The house committee said in a statement they and the current house residents distanced themselves from incidents of racism and regretted that the video was seen as a racial incident.

"The house committee and members of Reitz hostel have, particularly from the beginning of 2008, tried to positively implement the UFS' policy of hostel integration in a manner which was conducive to racial harmony and was glad to say that no racial incidents perceived or otherwise, were reported so far this year," a statement read.

The committee felt it would be unfair to judge all for the actions of a few.

Reitz residents would abide by any reasonable action taken against any guilty individuals, the house committee said.

- SAPA