Botho students released on bail
Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Thursday March 9, 2017 15:45
The eight students, Tebagano Goabaone, 19, Refilwe Moabi, 20, Rramphatlotse Ntume, 25, Eunice Moabanyane, 24, Ketshepaone Selepe, 23, Keitseng Mosenyegi, 26, Patrick Leruta, 21, and Lapologang Motlogelwa, 23, were released on bail yesterday and their matter adjourned to May 4, 2017.
They were arrested on campus for allegedly inciting violence and burning rubble on the campus driveway.
University management called police who swooped in and took the students to Gaborone West Police Station for questioning, where they were charged with common nuisance and remanded in custody.
Yesterday, prosecutor, constable Onkgopotse Gaotlolwe asked the Court to grant the students bail with provision that they show up in Court at all stipulated dates and that they do not commit the same or any criminal offence whilst on bail. They were then granted them free bail with the stated provisions. However, the group was also warned against any violence or criminal acts whilst on bail as failing to do so would land them back in jail.
Botho University with campuses in both Gaborone and Francistown, has been the scene of protests in recent weeks as students demonstrated over unaccredited courses and the payment of their book allowances.
At one point, members of the Students Representative Council (SRC) body were arrested and suspended, before lawyer Kago Mokotedi secured the lifting of the action and their release at the High Court.
Meanwhile, the SRC together with other students who won the High Court case, have been served with a Court order to appear before the Lobatse High Court today, as the University is appealing its recent court defeat.