The SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) will investigate a reported racist attack on a black student at the University of Free State, it said on Saturday.
"What is particularly disconcerting is that despite efforts made by various individuals and institutions, including the commission, to deal with incidents of racism at the UFS, these incidents continue to occur," SAHRC spokesman Isaac Mangena said in a statement.
On Thursday, two students accused of assaulting another student appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court.
Captain Chaka Marope said Cobus Muller and Charl Blom were driving in a bakkie on the university's Bloemfontein campus on Monday night and allegedly ran over Muzi Gwebu.
Later, the two allegedly confronted Gwebu and assaulted him.
The university said the students, if found guilty in the criminal and institutional investigations, would not be allowed to study at the university.
Mangena said it was concerning that South Africa was still grappling with intolerance and hatred among racial groups.
"The commission welcomes the swift action by the university management in dealing with the perpetrators of this act by summarily expelling them from the UFS with immediate effect.
"This swift action will serve as a clarion call to would-be perpetrators of the same act, that racism has no place in our democracy," he said. –Sapa