Charges against two University of the Free State (UFS) students who were initially arrested during protest on 24 February at the Bloemfontein campus have been withdrawn unconditionally.
Protests came after a group of workers and students clashed with supporters after trying to disrupt a Varsity Cup rugby match between the UFS Shimlas and Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU).
Lindiwe Abongile Bakaqa appeared at the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court this morning where a trial date was supposed to be set for her as well as Kgotso Baba.
Machini Motloung, a Legal Aid representative to the students, says they are glad the prosecution had agreed to withdraw all charges.
“We had a consultation with the prosecution team wherein the prosecution agreed to withdraw the charges unconditionally against the students involved. The charges against the other student, who is now in Turkey, were also withdrawn unconditionally. So the matter has now been laid to rest,” he said.
The charges were damage to property and contravening a court order.
A warrant of arrest had been issued for Baba after he had failed to appear in the previous court appearance. He was already overseas on a scholarship.
Bakaqa returned to court because she had not agreed to the mediation terms of the withdrawal charges last month.
Moeketsi Mogotsi/Courant News
