Cape Town - A statement by political science student Chumani Maxwele, which outlines his version of an incident that led to his suspension by UCT, is under consideration by the university’s legal office.
Maxwele, who threw human excrement on the statue of Cecil John Rhodes at UCT in March, was suspended for allegedly intimidating, harassing, threatening and racially abusing a UCT staff member on May 1.
On Monday, Maxwele announced that he had laid a counter complaint against the staff member. He claimed he felt victimised by the staff member and said the staffer had used racially offensive language.
Maxwele has denied the allegations against him and said they were a move to intimidate him and others.
The Cape Argus had asked the university whether a counter complaint had been laid by Maxwele against the staffer. UCT referred the newspaper to a statement it released last week which said the university regarded disciplinary matters as confidential.
In a statement yesterday Gerda Kruger, UCT’s executive director: communications and marketing, said the confidentiality was to protect all parties in the process and to ensure fairness.
Kruger said the student had not been charged for any incident relating to his protest activities. “The case will be heard on its merits.”
It would be heard by a proctor, a staff assessor and a Student Representative Council-elected student representative.
Kruger said UCT respected the rights of students to protest. “If the protest action is within the boundaries of the law there can and will be no charges brought against such students. In Mr Maxwele’s case in particular, the claim of victimisation for protest action stands in stark contrast to reality. Despite enormous pressure on and criticism of the university, we have publicly stated that he will not be charged for the poo throwing. We have not charged him for any incident related to the many activities of protest that have occurred on campus over two months.”
Kruger said another case where Maxwele was the complainant “is set to proceed”. His complaint of racism against a student was made in January and Kruger said charges had been formulated. “The accused, however, was at the time overseas, where he is still studying, which has complicated our ability to set a hearing date. The student is expected to return to South Africa in early June and a hearing will be held as soon as possible thereafter.”
Cape Argus