Rhodes University academics and staff members were given 15 days in the High Court in Grahamstown on Tuesday 17 May to file their answering affidavit on why the interim court interdict granted during recent campus protests should not be made final.
Rhodes University academics and staff members were given 15 days in the High Court in Grahamstown on Tuesday 17 May to file their answering affidavit on why the interim court interdict granted during recent campus protests should not be made final.
The interdict was set to be reviewed by the court on Tuesday and a decision be taken on its continued status.
Around 38 staff members and academics announced their intention to oppose the interdict shortly before the court hearing began.
In a courtroom filled with Rhodes staff, acting Judge Sadia Jacobs postponed the matter to 1 September after the concerned group made their intention to oppose it.
In September it will be argued on whether the interim should be made final or not. At the moment the interdict is still there and has interim status.
Following a week of protests on the campus against rape culture, and actions sparked by the publication on social media of the so-called #RUReference list, a court interdict forbade engagement in unlawful activities including kidnapping, assault, threats and intimidation on the campus.
Member of the Concerned Staff group, Corinne Knowles, said they would file their answering affidavit on 7 June.
On 24 June the university is set to file their own answering affidavit on the status of the interdict.
"We as the concerned group feel that the interdict is merely meant to create fear among the students and escalate tension in the university. Now we are further away from the initial cause of the protest.
"We no longer discussing the rape culture now, we are in court discussing court interdict. We want to sit down with the university management, negotiate and engage constructively on this matter," said Knowles.
"The interdict is dehumanising and we want it to be lifted. We will consult with lawyers and find a good way of opposing this interdict," said Knowles.
Rhodes University Media Relations Officer Catherine Deiner confirmed that the interdict has been extended because of an opposition by a group of academics.
She said the extension has allowed time for both the concerned group and the university to respond.
Deiner said the interdict sought to remind everyone of the law by pointing to actions which transgressed it. She said the decision to take out an interim interdict had not been taken lightly.
"Given the levels of violence and the extent to which some students were prepared to take the law into their own hands, there was a real danger that a life could be lost or property damaged.
"The interdict was originally requested to prevent further unlawful activities from taking place. The court then sets a date for when it will review the matter.
"The original date was 17 May. The new date for when the court will hear the matter is 1 September, when a decision will be made as to whether the interdict will be abandoned or made final," said Deiner.
Deiner said the university continues to emphasise that those who wish to protest peacefully and lawfully may do so because that is their right under the Constitution.
Deiner said the interdict is not intended to silence or prevent any individual or group from raising concerns about sexual violence in society and the student body, and the very real difficulties faced by survivors in laying charges and securing justice.
Two fires were started in Rhodes University's main administration building on Thursday 12 May, but were extinguished before they could do serious damage.
Mabizela issued a circular immediately after the incident and described it as an arson attempt.
The university said it there was still no evidence linking the fire to the recent student protests.
