Five CUT students to appear in court on public violence charges

Five students nabbed for leading illegal protest that has wreaked havoc at the Central University of Technology (CUT), are expected to appear before the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court next week Monday.

The Bloemfontein Public Order Police arrested five male students for public violence on Thursday morning, 30 June, at the CUT’s, Bloemfontein Campus.

The arrests came after a three-day strike by students at the main campus over their refusal to write examinations at the campus. This query has added on to the many aggrievances by the dissatisfied students.

Some of them include delayed module results and unpaid NSFAS funds, to mention a few.

According to Mangaung police spokesperson, colonel Thabo Covane, the operational commander warned the students to disperse within a given time as they were contravening the conditions stipulated in the issued court order.

“Protesting students became violent, and began throwing stones and bottles at the police and security personnel,” added Covane.

Following this move by the students, the police used stun grenades to disperse the crowd.

They ran into King Edward Street and blocked the traffic by placing stones in the road surface.

“The police then apprehended and arrested five male students aged 18 to 22.

A case docket for Public violence and the contravention of Court Order was opened at Parkweg Police Station.

All five arrested students will appear before the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 4 July 2022.