Students protest for UJ12 who have been “wrongfully” suspended.
Students at the University of Johannesburg’s Auckland Park Campus (UJ APK) began protesting this week
for the 12 students “wrongfully” suspended last month.
According to Aluwani Chokoe, treasurer of the South African Students Congress (SASCO) at UJ APK, the
current demonstrations are for the 12 students who were suspended by the university for organising a
protest in April. “The 12 students have been suspended without a disciplinary hearing and are not
allowed on campus,” says Chokoe.
Chokoe told Wits Vuvuzela that the university continues to postpone the hearing. “As we’re approaching
exams, the university will find any reason to academically exclude the 12 students as they will not be
able to write if their hearing has not sat,” said Chokoe.
Sandile Mdlongwa, one of the 12 students was arrested on Monday evening while trying to leave
campus. He appeared in court on Tuesday morning, but was released on bail. Mdlongwa was unavailable
for comment.
Students took to Twitter to express their views using the hashtag #FreeUJ.
@zintoraiser tweeted “ours is not to surrender….our spirit are with Comrade Sandile Mdlongwa in prison
#FreeUJ12”
@MajavuThabiso tweeted “UJ suspended us #UJ12 then when we appear for DC, UJ sends SAPS to arrest
us. We realy need legal help at Jeppe Police station. #FreeUJ12”
@ANCYLUJAPK tweeted “We will try by all means possible to get #UJ12 accepted back in our campuses
and also for them to get a fair opportunity to write exams.”
RELATED STORIES:
- Wits Vuvuzela, UJ students angered by death of fellow student, April 16, 2016.
- Wits Vuvuzela, October 6 against private security on campuses, March 21, 2016
