FF Plus lays complaint with Human Rights Commission against Stellenbosch University over the ‘purple face’ issue

15 February 2016

The FF Plus today submitted a complaint to the Human Rights Commission (HRC) over the alleged treatment of two female students at the Stellenbosch University, who were wrongly accused of so-called ‘blackfacing’, Adv. Anton Alberts, the FF Plus’ parliamentary spokesperson on Higher Education said.

Adv. Alberts says his complaint mainly deals with the SU’s breaching of the students’ (Christine Briedenhann and Jo-Anne Cloete) dignity in terms of Section 10 of the Bill of Rights as well as infringing on their right to freedom of expression in terms of Section 16 of the Bill of Rights.

According to reports in Rapport (14 February 2016), the students were summarily, temporary suspended from their residences, they were not given the opportunity to give their side of the case, they were apparently initially denied access to legal representation and they were subjected to a humiliating disciplinary proceeding.

Adv. Alberts says the trauma which two innocent students were unnecessarily subjected to, which will make a lasting impression on them, should be taken note of.

Statement issued by Adv. Anton Alberts, FF Plus parliamentary spokesperson: Higher Education, 15 February 2016