Outcome of the disciplinary hearing of the former CSRC president of the NWU Mafikeng Campus

On Thursday, 25 February, Mr Linda (Benz) Mabengwane, the former Campus Student Representative Council (CSRC) president was officially informed that he is suspended from the North-West University (NWU) for a period of three years.

The university was also instructed to notify all other higher education institutions in South Africa of the conviction and penalty.

Mr Mabengwane was found guilty on five of the six charges brought against him. These include the disruption of the registration process at the Mafikeng Campus on 25 January 2016, the assault of a fellow student on the same day, wilfully bringing the name of the university into disrepute by interfering with the rights of co-students in respect of the registration process in direct violation of the court interdict, interfering with the managerial functions of the management of the Mafikeng Campus, and engaging with the media on topics or activities that were designed to bring the NWU into disrepute.

The only charge on which he was not found guilty, was that of interfering with the registration process on 18 January 2016.

He was informed that he has the right to appeal against the disciplinary process, the guilty finding of the committee and/or the disciplinary sanction imposed upon him. Such an appeal must reach the office of the campus registrar within five working days after the notice has been served on him.

Statement issued by Mr Koos Degenaar, Director: Marketing and Communication, North West University, 26 February 2016