/ 13 November 2009

Jansen: Reitz apology on the way

The students involved in the Reitz race row will probably make a public apology before the end of this month, University of the Free State rector Jonathan Jansen said on Friday.

He was replying, at a Cape Town Press Club lunch, to a questioner who asked whether the students should not have shown remorse before being allowed back on campus.

”I think it would have been ideal, sir, if there was remorse, and ideal if there was an apology,” he said.

”And I do believe it’s going to happen within the next two weeks. You will see a process that I think will transform this country enormously.”

He said the process had little to do with him, but that he had been fortunate to be part of it.

Jansen was both applauded and criticised when he announced it his inauguration last month that the university had pardoned the four and that they could continue their studies if they wanted to.

The four students, residents of the all-white Reitz hostel, were expelled for making a video which showed them feeding black university workers food which had apparently been urinated in. — Sapa