Cape Town – The Cabinet has expressed strong displeasure with Free State University vice-chancellor Prof Jonathan Jansen’s decision to drop internal charges against the students who “humiliated the workers” on video tape.

“The process that led to the dropping of the charges was flawed in that it did not follow the established norm of getting the perpetrators to admit guilt, to apologise to the victims before any charges could be dropped, and to initiate a reconciliation process,” government spokesman Themba Maseko said yesterday.

“The manner in which this matter was handled suggests that the rights of the perpetrators have been given preference over the dignity and rights of the victims.”

At its fortnightly meeting on Wednesday, the Cabinet had supported Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande’s call for the university to initiate an inclusive and consultative process to deal with the matter and to address racism on campus.

He had written to Jansen asking for an explanation.

Jansen told businessmen in Bloemfontein yesterday he would “talk privately” with Nzimande, but support for his decision had far outweighed the opposition this week.

He wanted to create a campus where people would take responsibility for their actions, but the door should always be open for “compassion”.

Jansen also said he had received a letter from the four students who made the video, in which they had expressed remorse. “I appealed to them to approach the workers directly as well.” – Sapa