UCT heads to court to bar protesters from coming onto campus

17 February 2016 - 20:35 By TMG Digital
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Image: Rodger Bosch

The University of Cape Town is asking the High Court to interdict 15 protesters from engaging in violence as it tries to bring stability back to its campus following this week’s #shackville demonstration‚ petrol-bombing of the vice-chancellor’s office and burning of artworks.

The 15 include Eskom CEO Brian Molefe’s son Tumi and Chumani Maxwele who famously threw human excrement at a statue of Cecil John Rhodes last year.

Apart from the 15 identified by name‚ UCT is also asking for an order against “those persons who associate themselves with any unlawful conduct”.

The application‚ made public late Wednesday afternoon‚ seeks to prevent the protesters from entering‚ or remaining on‚ any of UCT’s premises until 14h00 on Friday 26 February.

If any of the protesters cited live in an university residence‚ the document states that the university would consider letting them staying in their rooms if formal consent is obtained.

UCT also wants the court to restrain the protesters from:

  • any action that obstructs or frustrates the effective rendering of university services or decision-making processes of the university
  • erecting any unauthorised structures
  • destroying or defacing property;
  • participating in‚ or inciting others to participate in‚ violent protest;
  • inciting violence.

Overnight‚ eight people were arrested including six students on charges of malicious damage to property. They were released on bail and their case was postponed to March 30.

Molefe‚ speaking outside the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court earlier on Wednesday‚ said: “I am here as a parent to support my son. I have no opinion of the protests. I was a student activist too”.

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