AfriForum Youth wins court case: Costs awarded against UP

The Pretoria High Court today invalidated the decision of the University of Pretoria (UP) to call a re-election for this university's student parliament, and ruled that the university must pay AfriForum Youth's costs associated with the court application. The court furthermore ruled that the results of the student parliamentary election, held during September 2011, be announced immediately, and that a new student council be constituted within 14 days.

AfriForum Youth brought the court application after UP had decided to declare the election invalid and appointed its own student council. The ruling is based, among other things, on the finding that the university unlawfully interfered in the process after the ANC affiliated student organization, SASCO, had submitted a threatening letter to the university not to announce the results.

AfriForum's Youth's national chairman, Charl Oberholzer, welcomed the court's ruling, describing it as a triumph for the students. "AfriForum Youth has succeeded in its aim to restore students' voting rights. The time has come for UP, as well as all student organizations to get together to ensure that this ruling is applied in a positive way by constituting a legitimate student parliament, elected by the students, as soon as possible."

Judge Rabie read his decision to the court today and made his ruling available to the parties. AfriForum Youth will study the ruling.

"This proves that students can indeed achieve success and can make their university a better place by standing up for their rights and by persevering," Oberholzer said.

Statement issued by Charl Oberholzer, National Chairman, AfriForum Youth, February 24 2012

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