EFF takes Wits to court and wants Habib censured

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has a lesson for Adam Habib: “Arbitrary decisions to ban and banish organisations and people are things of the past.”

The party said it would take the University of the Witswatersrand to court to reverse the decision to suspended some of its members as students and disqualify them from participating in Student Representative Council (SRC) elections.

The EFF said Wits vice-chancellor Habib “has without reason and against the advice of the University Council chairperson and prominent academic and administrative staff decided to go ahead with the repression and suspension of students without proper procedure”.

Representatives of the Wits Council Exco on Tuesday met the national leadership of the EFF and the student leadership of the Wits EFF society to discuss the disruption of an SRC election debate on August 18.

“The EFF made three requests regarding decisions that had been taken by the majority of the Council Exco‚” a Wits statement said‚

These were:

- The withdrawal of the decision to de-recognise the Wits EFF as a student society at the University;

- The withdrawal of the disqualification from the SRC elections of members of the Wits EFF who had contravened the Electoral Code of Conduct; and

- The withdrawal of the suspension of individuals who were involved in violence and/or threats of violence from the university and its activities.

Consensus was reached on the first point with the EFF claiming that “after long discussions and cogent illustration to the Wits University management that their decisions were not sensible‚ the meeting arrived at the following conclusion: That the de-registration of the EFF as part of Wits University Clubs‚ Societies and Organisation is withdrawn‚ because there is completely nothing wrong that the EFF did”.

The Wits statement framed it differently‚ saying “the national leadership confirmed that the EFF had never said that it would operate outside the rules of the university and if any individual had said that‚ they would have been acting in their individual capacity”.

“It also confirmed that the EFF had committed itself to being a peaceful and non-violent organisation that engages robustly. On the basis of this assurance‚ the University is willing to withdraw the de-recognition of the Wits EFF as a student society.

“On the second and third matters‚ the Council Exco and the EFF were not in agreement‚” the Wits statement continued.

“The university is committed to creating a safe space for the free exchange of ideas. It welcomes a multiplicity of voices on campus and in student governance‚ and believes that the participation of the Wits EFF will enhance this.

“However‚ the university reiterates that the safety and security of the Wits community is paramount and cannot be compromised.”

On the second and third matters‚ the disqualification from the elections and the suspension of students stands‚ and “their cases will be investigated and disciplinary procedures will be implemented if appropriate”.

While the Wits statement was signed off by the Chairperson of the Council‚ Dr Randall Carolissen‚ the EFF said “Habib has declared himself an enemy of the Economic Freedom Fighters‚ and an enemy of open and democratic participation of students in the University of the Witwatersrand”.

“The EFF has taken the decision to take the matter to the court. We will file papers to interdict the election process‚ reinstate the EFF SRC elections candidates and lift the suspension of students‚” the EFF said.

“We call on all students of Wits University to unite against this cowardly and unprofessional vice-chancellor‚ who takes uninformed‚ undemocratic and repressive decisions as it relates to students.”

The EFF also made call “to censure…Habib because he is fast approaching his demise as a respected academic‚ and will damage the open democratic values and traditions of the university”.