UFS gets interdict for sports matches
2010-08-06 22:24
Bloemfontein - The University of the Free State (UFS) on Friday obtained a court interdict to prevent disruptions of its intervarsity sports matches against the North West University in Bloemfontein this weekend.
An court interdict was granted to the UFS against any students disrupting the weekend's activities, UFS spokesperson Lacea Loader said.
On Friday afternoon South African Students Congress (Sasco) members tried to disrupt matches between the Bloemfontein and Potchefstroom based universities.
Sasco claimed the North West University was racist and that other previously disadvantaged universities should rather take part in intervarsity contests against the UFS.
Loader said a group of students started protesting at the student centre on the main campus on Friday afternoon.
Soon afterwards some of these students disrupted hockey and netball games on campus.
A group of them staged a sit-in on the netball courts. Loader said these games were cancelled due to safety reasons.
The UFS said all other sport and planned activities would continue as normal over the weekend.
"No further disruptions will be tolerated."
Loader said the UFS management was in control of the situation and the campus was calm.
Freedom Front Plus Kovsies leader Chrisna de Kock criticised Sasco's action and said they hoped UFS management would ensure there were no disruptions over the weekend.
De Kock said Sasco was polarising students on the Bloemfontein campus.
UFS dean for student affairs Rudi Buys said earlier the 2010 intervarsity contest would have a few additional programmes.
"We have invited the other campuses of the NWU to join the intervarsity, and our Qwaqwa Campus was for the first time also involved."
Additions to the programme included a debating championship lead by the UFS debating society, as well as a hip hop event on Saturday afternoon.
- SAPA
