UB students threaten to sue over their suspension

LAWRENCE SERETSE
Correspondent | Wednesday February 1, 2012 00:00

On Monday their attorney of record, Duma Boko, slapped the University of Botswana (UB) Vice-Chancellor with a letter of demand to show cause why they cannot launch the lawsuit.

On January 24, 2012, the university's Director of Legal Services, David Fani, served the SRC President, his vice Thumo Seleke, the SRC Administrative Secretary, Tshepiso Nolan Bodilenyane and Minister of Justice Kago Mokotedi with suspension letters and immediately evicted them from the UB premises. They were arrested and detained after the student community demonstrated against the institution's decision to suspend supplementary examinations, inter-varsity games and over issues affecting the new School of Medicine.  The institution resumed classes yesterday and the student leaders - still on suspension - are not allowed to enter the university premises.

The suspended SRC leaders claim that they are yet to establish why they were arrested and detained by the police.  They now demand that their suspensions be withdrawn while they await a disciplinary hearing with the management so that they can be able to return to their studies.

The SRC also wants to resume its duties and classes since some of them are in their final year's study at UB.

Richard told Mmegi that their academic work is at stake and their social life is suffering because of the management's decision to suspend them.

'We have sought accommodation from good Samaritans. We address them with realistic problems that affect the youth as a nation but they treat it as if we are being rebellious.  These students at the School of Medicine are the very same doctors we will need tomorrow and they have to be professionally trained to serve this nation,' he said.

He said the situation at the School of Medicine is a national crisis that needs serious attention. Efforts to contact the university were futile at press time.