Reitz 4 granted leave to appeal

2010-08-31 13:28

Bloemfontein - The four former University of the Free State students known as the "Reitz Four" were on Tuesday granted leave to appeal their sentence in the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court.

RC Malherbe, Johnny Roberts, Schalk van der Merwe and Danie Grobler were in July sentenced to a R20 000 fine each, or 12 months in jail after pleading guilty to a charge of crimen injuria.

The four also received a further six months imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years under certain conditions.

The charges relate to them humiliating five black workers in an initiation-type ceremony in 2007, which they filmed while living at the university's now-closed Reitz men's residence.

Their sentences were suspended until the outcome of the appeal.

- SAPA