Rhodes University was this afternoon granted an urgent interdict prohibiting students or anyone else aligned with the current protest from intimidating, assaulting or threatening any member of the university community.
In a most unusual move, the university’s top three management figures gave oral evidence in the Grahamstown High Court about why they were forced to resort to this extraordinary action against their students or anyone else aligned to the volatile anti-rape protest on campus.
Vice Chancellor Dr Sizwe Mabizela, Registrar Dr Steven Fourie and finance head Dr Iain L’Ange gave startling evidence of kidnapping, assault and intimidation that had led to them resorting to court.
The temporary urgent interdict prohibits students, or anyone else aligning themselves to the protests, from interfering with free movement on campus, from kidnapping, assault, threatening, intimidating or in any manner interfering with bodily integrity and psychological and mental wellbeing of any member of the Rhodes community.
It also restrains them from damaging property or disrupting, obstructing or in any way interfering with the academic, administrative or residential processes of the university.
Acting Judge Sardia Jacobs ordered that the students should come to court on May 31 to show why the temporary interdict should not be made final.
The protests were sparked by the anonymous publication of a list of names of men students that are alleged to have raped or sexually assaulted women. There has been no indication who initially posted the list or who accused the men, but it has resulted in demands for their summary removal from campus and a review of Rhodes sexual assault policies. Groups of students briefly took some of the men into their custody and they have been humiliated and mocked. All 11 men, and two more whose names were later added to the list, have been forced into hiding.
Advocate Izak Smuts, SC, instructed by attorney Owen Huxtable moved the application in the High Court at lunchtime tomorrow.
Court grants Rhodes urgent interdict against students
In a most unusual move, the university’s top three management figures gave oral evidence in the Grahamstown High Court about why they were forced to resort to this extraordinary action against their students or anyone else aligned to the volatile anti-rape protest on campus.
Vice Chancellor Dr Sizwe Mabizela, Registrar Dr Steven Fourie and finance head Dr Iain L’Ange gave startling evidence of kidnapping, assault and intimidation that had led to them resorting to court.
The temporary urgent interdict prohibits students, or anyone else aligning themselves to the protests, from interfering with free movement on campus, from kidnapping, assault, threatening, intimidating or in any manner interfering with bodily integrity and psychological and mental wellbeing of any member of the Rhodes community.
It also restrains them from damaging property or disrupting, obstructing or in any way interfering with the academic, administrative or residential processes of the university.
Acting Judge Sardia Jacobs ordered that the students should come to court on May 31 to show why the temporary interdict should not be made final.
The protests were sparked by the anonymous publication of a list of names of men students that are alleged to have raped or sexually assaulted women. There has been no indication who initially posted the list or who accused the men, but it has resulted in demands for their summary removal from campus and a review of Rhodes sexual assault policies. Groups of students briefly took some of the men into their custody and they have been humiliated and mocked. All 11 men, and two more whose names were later added to the list, have been forced into hiding.
Advocate Izak Smuts, SC, instructed by attorney Owen Huxtable moved the application in the High Court at lunchtime tomorrow.
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