Cape Town - Twenty five students who were remanded for a week last Friday, following violent unrest at the Bellville campus of the Cape Peninsula University of Technology the day before, were released on bail of R3 000 each when they appeared in court on Wednesday.
They were remanded to appear in the Bellville Magistrate’s court again on Friday this week, but the case was called on Wednesday instead, due to the fact that the State had already obtained all the background information it required to decide whether to release them or to oppose their release on bail.
It transpired that none of them had any previous convictions, pending criminal cases or outstanding arrest warrants.
In Wednesday’s proceedings, they appeared before magistrate Ronald Rickerts, who warned them not to set foot on the campus again, until the finalisation of the case, except to write examinations.
They were also warned not to participate in any further student protests, and that if they did they would be re-arrested and remain in custody until the case had been finalised.
If re-arrested, no other court in the country would allow them bail again, the magistrate warned.
Of the group, 24 face charges of public violence while the last one, who was caught in possession of a petrol bomb, is only charged with possession of an explosive device.
They are expected back in court on November 28.
African News Agency