11 UKZN students in custody will wait longer for a bail decision

11 UKZN students in custody will wait longer for a bail decision

Eleven UKZN Pietermaritzburg students who were hoping to be released today will remain behind bars as a bail decision is only expected on Thursday in the city's magistrate's court.

Arrested UKZN Pietermaritzburg students in court
Nushera Soodyal

The group was arrested early last month on charges relating to public violence, failing to comply with police orders, assault, contravention of a court order and malicious damage to property. 


They have spent almost three weeks in custody since they were first arrested.


The student's lawyers have argued that not releasing them on bail will jeopardise negotiations between the university and the Fees Must Fall movement.


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But the state says all the accused students had financial aid and broke the law because they had nothing to lose - adding they had crossed the line into thuggery.


The outcome of today's court appearance has infuriated some student activists -  who were at court hoping to receive the students if they got bail.

Meanwhile, a planned protest on higher education demands will take place tomorrow in the Durban CBD. 

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