06 Apr 2017

The total costs University of Botswana (UB) incurred during their legal battles with the UB Student Representative Council (SRC) for the past seven years is P289 313.60

The Minister of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology, Dr Alfred Madigele explained that for the past seven years, UB had a total of 14 legal cases against the UB SRC.

The offences, he said, ranged from disorderly conduct, attempted rape and sexual harassment, which the SRC won.

Other offences included disturbance of peace and tranquility and theft, and that UB won two cases, incitement of students to commit violence, malicious damage to property and storming the vice chancellor’s office, disruption of teaching and learning, masterminding illegal demonstrations and breach of conditions of suspension.

Out of these, the UB won three cases while SRC won one.

The UB SRC also won after students challenged the UB’s decision to de-register them following disciplinary hearing.

They also won an application by Mr Kelebeng to set aside a decision by the 1st and 2nd respondents to stop recognising him as a full time student and president of the SRC.

Another case won by SRC was an application by SRC for the student community to be allowed access into the UB to retrieve their personal effects following closure of the university during the February 2017 riots.

The university also won cases, where applicants were opposing a writ of elections for the 2017/17 SRC elections and the appointment of the chief electoral officer, and a case where student, Setlhomo Tshwanelang was opposing the memo from UB which instructed that SRC should not campaign along political lines.

It also won an application by Mr Ngoni for an order interdicting the respondents from appointing an electoral team for purposes of the 2016/17 UB SRC elections, and also one on infringing on the dignity of an individual member of the UB community.

Dr Madigele said of the 14 cases, UB won nine cases UB SRC won five.Specially Elected MP, Mr Mephato Reatile had asked the minister to state the number of cases and nature of offences that took place between UB against UB SRC for the past seven years.

He also wanted to know the number of cases that UB won and lost against the SRC for the past seven years, and the total legal costs incurred by UB during their legal battles with the UB SRC or members of the SRC for the past seven years. ENDS