Bloemfontein – The Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court has withdrawn charges against 12 of the 21 University of Free State students arrested on Thursday, police said on Friday.
"The remaining nine students were
The nine will appear in court again on March 31.
The students were charged with public violence and contempt of court, Marope said.
Magistrate Marlene Marais said the accused may not obstruct any processes of the university, as set out in a high court interdict on January 16.
The students were arrested on Thursday after the university told them that their demand – that Vice Chancellor Jonathan Jansen be removed from his post – would be referred to its management structures.
Students rejected the response. They allegedly tried to vandalise a statue of former Orange Free State president Marthinus Theunis Steyn. Police fired rubber bullets and used stun grenades to disperse them.
On Thursday,
Marope said on Friday that he did not know if Setlofane was part of the 21.
