UKZN students weep as bail bid delayed

UNIVERSITY of KwaZuluNatal students burst into tears when their bail application was delayed in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

The students – five women and six men known as the Pietermaritzburg 11 – were arrested on charges of failing to comply with police orders‚ interfering with police duty during an illegal gathering‚ malicious damage to property and assault after running battles with police and security at the campus two weeks ago.

The state opposed bail on the grounds that it had footage showing them throwing stones and bottles at police and that they were behaving in a violent manner.

The prosecutor said protests had “quietened down” after their arrest.

The Pietermaritzburg 11 were tracked down and arrested based on footage taken of the incident. Magistrate Mercia Boikhutso asked to see the footage before ruling on the bail application.

Advocate Mazwi Dlamini‚ who is representing the students‚ asked that the matter be adjourned until Monday‚ a request rejected by the magistrate.

The matter was postponed until October 10‚ a decision that reduced most of the women to tears. Student representative council member Ntokoza Vundla said the students were devastated. “They were doing okay last week because they were kept separate from other prisoners but by yesterday they were breaking down.” — TMG Digital