JOHANNESBURG – Four students have received suspended sentences from the University of Johannesburg after they were found guilty for a variety of serious transgressions.
The four students were part of a group of 12 students who were recently suspended from the university.
The quartet have been slapped with expulsions following a hearing on Friday, however their punishment has been suspended pending that they are not found guilty of similar misconduct during the duration of their studies at the university, and provided that they completed 80 hours of community service by November 30.
Senior Executive Director in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor Tumi Mketi, said the university respected the right of students to participate in public protests, demonstrations and meetings.
“However, this is so as long as students do so in terms of the University’s student regulations, are peaceful and do not disrupt academic and administrative activities, or place the safety of students and staff in jeopardy,” said Mketi.
“UJ does not accept that violent protest, under any circumstance, is a valid method of engagement. There is no room whatsoever for destructive and disruptive behaviour and those engaging in such behaviour will bear the full consequence of their actions in terms of the University’s rules and laws of the country.”
“We will not allow a small group to disrupt the smooth functioning of teaching and learning for the vast majority of students, and to that extent we will continue to work robustly to ensure the safety, security and peaceful atmosphere of the University and all its stakeholders.”
The university said that two of the 12 students whose cases were also looked into on Friday were found not guilty, while disciplinary hearings for the remaining six will be held in due course.
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