UPDATE: No mob attack at Wits
JOHANNESBURG – Wits spokesperson refutes claims of mob attack at the university.
UPDATE: 3 February 2017, 4pm – Wits spokesperson, Shirona Patel has rubbished claims of an alleged incident relating to an attack on a student by a mob at the university.
“I have spoken to the university dean, as well as campus control security and verified that these claims are untrue,” she said. “No beating took place or was reported.”
Speculation of the assault on a student at the university did the rounds on social media throughout Thursday, initially sparked by a tweet that surfaced from an account known to circulate crime-related incidents.
Police spokesperson, Mduduzi Zondo yesterday confirmed that Hillbrow police had received queries about the incident, but could not verify the claims as no formal complaint had been made.
INITIAL REPORT: 2 February 2017, 5pm – A recent tweet has hinted that there was a brutal attack on a Wits student by a mob at the university’s Braamfontein campus.
STUDENT BEATEN TO A PULP BY GROUP WHILE SECURITY JUST STAND & WATCH : WITS CAMPUS. EMPIRE RD. BRAAMFONTEIN. JHB. GP. SAPS & EMS EN-ROUTE.
— REZA (@crimeairnetwork) February 1, 2017
The tweet did not specify what sparked the alleged assault or whether the attackers were university students.
Sharona Patel, spokesperson for the university, said, “I will be in touch with the dean at the university in order to establish whether this incident truly did transpire or not.”
Hillbrow police are yet to confirm the authenticity of the claims pending further investigation. Spokesperson Sergeant Mduduzi Zondo said, “It might happen that the incident took place but the victim did not come forward to report the case.”
City Buzz will provide periodic updates, should more information come up. The university was rocked by violent student protests last year during the #Fees Must Fall student campaign.
Read: Former Witsie returns as a doctor
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