University suspends #FeesMustFall leader

A #FEESMUSTFALL leader who allegedly assaulted a police officer has been suspended from Rhodes University for four years – although the criminal case has not been concluded.

Final-year sociology student Noxolo Mfocwa, 21, yesterday said she was also slapped with a “conduct unsatisfactory” endorsement on her student transcript following her disciplinary hearing on Monday.

Two other #FeesMustFall leaders, Vuyo Sigingqi, 21, and Teboho Mohapi, 22, will have to wait until January after their hearing for allegedly assaulting campus protection security guards was postponed on Monday.

Mfocwa was arrested shortly after Sigingqi and Mohapi on November 5 at the Grahamstown police station after a group of supporters went to find out what had happened to the two men.

All three students yesterday claimed they had been targeted by the university in an effort to try and break up the movement’s leadership on campus.

Rhodes University spokeswoman Catherine Deiner said: “We do not release information relating to individual hearings but we do publish an anonymous annual report on the disciplinary website once a year.”

Although 43 students had been arrested and criminally charged since protests broke out, they claim they were the only ones singled out to undergo disciplinary hearings.

All 43 students are expected back in court this morning after being released on bail at previous hearings.

Student attorney Basil Williams, who was unable to attend Monday’s hearing, yesterday said he has advised Mfocwa to file an application to have the decision reviewed.

He said the alleged incident did not happen on Rhodes property and that the criminal matter had not been concluded.

Mfocwa, who has only three half credits left to complete her degree, yesterday said she doubted she would be able to get into any other university considering the “conduct unsatisfa endorsement and the fact that applications had already closed.

She said all three of them had been labelled “troublemakers” by management for being involved since the beginning with the #FeesMustFall movement and #RuReferenceList, which had targeted alleged campus rapists.

According to Mfocwa, the university could have come up with alternative punishments that did not destroy her life.

“Basically they are saying I cannot study here or anywhere else for the next four years.”

Mfocwa said even though her life had been destroyed by the suspension and negative endorsement, she hoped other poor students would keep up the campaign because #FeesMustFall was a “just cause”.

Sigingqi and Mohapi said delays in finalising their disciplinary hearings meant they would be living in limbo until January 23. —