Reitz Trial Postponed, One Case Dropped

The Reitz Residence was closed due to the video scandal.

The South African trial of four former University of the Free State students, who made an allegedly racist video in early 2008, has been postponed to October.

RC Malherbe, Johnny Roberts, Schalk van der Merwe and Danie Grobler, former residents of the now-closed Reitz men’s residence on the Bloemfontein campus, made the video as a protest against integration plans at the university. The video features a mock initiation of five black staff members into hostel activities. The men claim the video was made only in jest and they did not mean to harm the black help staff.

A charge of assault, for allegedly urinating in a mixture the workers had to drink, has been dropped against the men. They face crimen injuria, defined in South African common law as “unlawfully, intentionally and seriously impairing the dignity of another.”

The Black employees from the video are expected to testify during the trial.

The Human Rights Commission (HRC) plans to take the students to the Equality Court. A Volksblad report quotes HRC regional chief Mothusi Lepheane as saying he wanted this criminal case to be concluded before continuing with an Equality Court case.

The video caused a stir internationally and lead to the closure of the hostel on campus.

Related posts:

1. Reitz Four Convicted Of Crimen Injuria
2. Racist Fear Factor Students Reinstated
3. “We Have Already Beaten The Whites”: ANCYL