EFF intervenes in student's failed bid to review life ban
The EFF made a call for intervention, to bring Rhodes University ‘to its senses’, in response to former student Yolanda Dyantyi being banned from the university for life, for a range of charges – including kidnapping, assault, defamation and insubordination.
The Citizen reports Dyantyi was expelled in 2017, after being convicted by an independent disciplinary inquiry instituted by the institution. The Eastern Cape High Court (Makhanda) has now dismissed Dyantyi’s review application.
News24 previously reported Dyantyi’s legal representative, Nomzamo Zondo from the Socio-economic Rights Institute, said the terms of the expulsion had made it practically impossible for her to enroll in any other higher education institution for the foreseeable future.
In her application for review, Dyantyi had also sought the court’s intervention in setting aside its verdict on all the charges and for the university to be ordered to pay the costs of her application proceedings.
The court, however, dismissed her application with costs on Friday, according to the university.
The EFF also alluded in its statement that the ‘university tribunal accepted untested evidence of university witnesses against her (Dyantyi). She was never given the opportunity to cross-examine her accusers and rigorously test their evidence’.
According to university spokesperson Velisile Bukula, Dyantyi had also reiterated the claims to the court in her review application.
‘The judge noted that throughout the hearing, Dyantyi was represented by a “highly esteemed team of four legal practitioners” who in fact, participated in the disciplinary hearing over nine sittings,’ Bukula said.
According to a News24 report, Bukula said the university reiterated the seriousness and urgency which the institution treated any offences involving sexual and or gender-based violence.
He added several students have, in the last three years, also been permanently excluded for offences involving sexual violence. These are in the public record.
‘The university recognises and supports the right to peaceful protest, but will not condone serious violent offences in furtherance of such protest.’
Article disclaimer: While we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this article, it is not intended to provide final legal advice as facts and situations will differ from case to case, and therefore specific legal advice should be sought with a lawyer.
