UFS denies non-suspended student graduation ceremony

AfriForum Youth will give the necessary support to a University of the Free State (UFS) student, after the young man, who was involved in an alleged assault on the campus earlier this year, was informed via SMS that he is not welcome at his graduation ceremony next month.

All student rights have been detracted from the white student after the alleged incident, while he and another student involved were never given an opportunity to state their case.

Prof Jonathan Jansen, Rector of the UFS, argues that “the risk of possible negative reaction from students is still too big”.

“AfriForum Youth’s biggest problem with this situation is that the students are being victimised by the UFS. The graduation ceremony is the biggest event in any student’s life. We will approach university management to request them to reconsider their decision,” Henk Maree, National Chairman of AfriForum Youth, said.

“The double standards of the University are shocking. The UFS keeps on targeting these two young men, but in the latest incident, a black student who was involved in an alleged assault on campus was punished with a suspended fine of R1000. It looks like the disciplinary processes of the UFS are determined by the skin colour of the alleged transgressor,” Maree said.

“The big question is: Where is the Minister of Higher Education, Dr Blade Nzimande? There were two incidents of alleged initiation practises at the Potchefstroom campus of the North West University of which a big fuss was made and an investigation was ordered by the minister. Now there are two incidents of alleged assault at the UFS campus, with no reaction from the Department. The conclusion that can be made is that the Department has its own double standards and the Pukke-saga was blown out of proportion.”