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UJ obtains interdicts to prevent protests‚ as clashes rages on campuses

File Photo
File Photo
Image: Picture: EWN

The University of Johannesburg (UJ) has said that it has obtained two interdicts to prevent protest activities on any UJ campus.

The University of Johannesburg (UJ) has said that it has obtained two interdicts to prevent protest activities on any UJ campus.

The university made this announcement on Wednesday as students clashed with university security at the its main and Doornfontein campuses on Wednesday afternoon.

A group of students marched from the main campus in Auckland Park on Wednesday afternoon‚ and‚ upon arrival‚ were met with a fierce security presence.

University security threw stones at students and journalists outside the Doornfontein campus.

Professor Patrick O’Brien‚ the university’s general counsel‚ announced in a notice posted on the university’s website that UJ was committed to ensuring the safety and security of all persons and property at the institution’s campuses and was committed to ensuring that all its normal activities should continue without interruption.

O’Brien said the interdict‚ obtained from the high court in Johannesburg‚ was against all students at the university conducting themselves unlawfully on any UJ campus.

He said a second interdict extended the orders of court to all persons participating‚ inciting‚ encouraging of facilitating protest action or demonstration on any of the properties owned or managed by the university‚ including off-campus properties.

“The supporters‚ and in the case of organisations or societies‚ their members‚ are also covered by the second interdict.”

Some of the conduct which was expressly prohibited included:

 -Blocking entrances to university property;

-Preventing access or way out of students‚ staff and visitors to the university property;

-Disrupting the normal activities of the university and carrying out threats of violence; and

 -Causing damage to university property.

O’Brien said the court interdicts recognised that‚ irrespective of their ideological or political orientation‚ students’ rights to actively initiate‚ organise or participate in the lawful activities of any academic‚ political‚ religious and social student organisations were promoted and shall be protected at the universities.

He said it was possible for students to participate in public protests‚ demonstrations and meetings as long as they complied with university’s rules.

“However‚ protest actions or demonstrations which are not conducted in terms of the university’s student regulations may not be held on university property or within 100 metres of the entrance to or boundary of university property.

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