The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) on Thursday welcomed the ruling by the South Gauteng High Court that the suspension of students who are members of the EFF branch at Wits University be lifted.
The application for an interim order was brought before the court by the national leadership of the EFF against Wits‚ interdicting the decision by the university to suspend certain Wits EFF student society members from the university; the decision by the university prohibiting Wits EFF candidates from contesting in the 2015 Wits Students’ Representative Council (SRC) elections; and the conducting of the SRC elections.
EFF acting national spokesperson Fana L Mokoena said‚ “We also note that the only reason the judge‚ according to his statement‚ could not rule in our favour that our candidates be allowed back in the election process is because he felt they would have been disadvantaged for the loss of time caused by these senseless sanctions by the vice-chancellor Adam Habib.
“The EFF is vexed by the irresponsible conduct of the vice chancellor Adam Habib in the manner he has prejudiced the EFF in the political life of Wits.
“This man clearly had the intention of sidelining the EFF in the electoral process currently under way.To this end he has achieved his objective.”
In a statement released shortly after the court decision‚ Prof Habib said‚ “Today the court found that the SRC elections should continue‚ and that the prohibition of the Wits EFF candidates from contesting in the 2015 SRC elections should remain in place. The university is appreciative of this ruling and the SRC elections will continue as planned.”
He said the court further found that the suspension of students from the university should be set aside and that the disciplinary procedures for these individuals should be convened within 10 days. “The university is more than willing to comply with the time stipulation regarding the disciplinary procedures.
“We disagree with the ruling regarding the lifting of the suspensions‚ given that the evidence suggests that these students broke the code of conduct for students by engaging in or threatening physical altercations‚ and the fact that the university has an obligation to protect the safety and security of its students‚ staff and visitors.
“However‚ the university will respect the decision of the court.”
Prof Habib said the university “would like to put this matter behind us so that we can focus on our core activities of teaching‚ learning‚ research and social engagement.
“As the SRC elections proceed‚ we trust that all members of the university community‚ and the students and student societies in particular‚ will conduct themselves in a proper manner within the rules of the university.”
Mokoena said Prof Habib “has tarnished the name of Wits which has never had this kind of unfree and unfair electoral history since democracy. We are glad that other academics have distanced themselves from his criminal behaviour… He is has put the name of Wits University into disrepute and must be removed. The EFF will make sure of it.”
The EFF would study the court outcome carefully and weigh its options‚ said Mokoena‚ but it “can be said now that we will not let this go by unchallenged. One thing is clear in our minds‚ Habib must be stopped. He must go!”
EFF welcomes court ruling‚ calls for Habib’s removal
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) on Thursday welcomed the ruling by the South Gauteng High Court that the suspension of students who are members of the EFF branch at Wits University be lifted.
The application for an interim order was brought before the court by the national leadership of the EFF against Wits‚ interdicting the decision by the university to suspend certain Wits EFF student society members from the university; the decision by the university prohibiting Wits EFF candidates from contesting in the 2015 Wits Students’ Representative Council (SRC) elections; and the conducting of the SRC elections.
EFF acting national spokesperson Fana L Mokoena said‚ “We also note that the only reason the judge‚ according to his statement‚ could not rule in our favour that our candidates be allowed back in the election process is because he felt they would have been disadvantaged for the loss of time caused by these senseless sanctions by the vice-chancellor Adam Habib.
“The EFF is vexed by the irresponsible conduct of the vice chancellor Adam Habib in the manner he has prejudiced the EFF in the political life of Wits.
“This man clearly had the intention of sidelining the EFF in the electoral process currently under way.To this end he has achieved his objective.”
In a statement released shortly after the court decision‚ Prof Habib said‚ “Today the court found that the SRC elections should continue‚ and that the prohibition of the Wits EFF candidates from contesting in the 2015 SRC elections should remain in place. The university is appreciative of this ruling and the SRC elections will continue as planned.”
He said the court further found that the suspension of students from the university should be set aside and that the disciplinary procedures for these individuals should be convened within 10 days. “The university is more than willing to comply with the time stipulation regarding the disciplinary procedures.
“We disagree with the ruling regarding the lifting of the suspensions‚ given that the evidence suggests that these students broke the code of conduct for students by engaging in or threatening physical altercations‚ and the fact that the university has an obligation to protect the safety and security of its students‚ staff and visitors.
“However‚ the university will respect the decision of the court.”
Prof Habib said the university “would like to put this matter behind us so that we can focus on our core activities of teaching‚ learning‚ research and social engagement.
“As the SRC elections proceed‚ we trust that all members of the university community‚ and the students and student societies in particular‚ will conduct themselves in a proper manner within the rules of the university.”
Mokoena said Prof Habib “has tarnished the name of Wits which has never had this kind of unfree and unfair electoral history since democracy. We are glad that other academics have distanced themselves from his criminal behaviour… He is has put the name of Wits University into disrepute and must be removed. The EFF will make sure of it.”
The EFF would study the court outcome carefully and weigh its options‚ said Mokoena‚ but it “can be said now that we will not let this go by unchallenged. One thing is clear in our minds‚ Habib must be stopped. He must go!”
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