SASCO shocked by dismissal of students
JOBURG - The South African Students' Congress said it was shocked by a decision by the University of the Witwatersrand to expel 11 students for protesting against an Israeli Embassy-funded concert early in 2013.
Last year, the university charged 11 students, nine of whom are Wits Student Representative Council members, for protesting against an Israeli Embassy-funded piano concert, held on campus in March 2013.
Congress president Ntuthuko Makhombothi said, “We note with shock and great sadness the decision to expel about 11 of our comrades, for fighting for justice and the liberation of the people of Palestine.”
Makhombothi said the protest was due to a variety of resolutions the students’ congress took and thus was supported by all its structures, including the Wits Students’ Representative Council, to support the academic and cultural boycott of Israel.
He stated, “As the students’ congress we are of the opinion that the hosting of the Israeli concert in the first place is what brought the university into disrepute. The 11 Wits students were upholding the good name of Wits University by protesting against the Israeli concert.”
In a statement, the university said the sentence was suspended, provided the students were not found guilty of any other form of misconduct for a period of two years. These students would also not be allowed to hold any office in any student governance structure for a period of one year.
