Where did the letters on the gate go? Student in court for the damage

A 22-year-old education student has made several appearances in the Potchefstroom Magistrate Court after letters spelling “NWU” on the Hoffman Street entrance gate of North-West University disappeared.

According to Bertie Jacobs, a NWU spokesperson, the student, dressed in his underwear and a balaclava, was caught on the night of the incident after allegedly harassing passersby and vandalising the NWU’s signage, which has subsequently been replaced.

Jacobs, said that the alleged incident took place at the end of February at 3:00 in the morning: “[The student] was acting violently, …[he] resisted detainment and fled the scene, after which Protection Services pursued and apprehended him.” The student awaited the arrival of the Police at the office of Protection Services’ and was subsequently arrested.

Colonel Adéle Myburgh, a police spokesperson, confirmed the name, age and field of study of the student. The student’s name is known to threestreamsmedia.  

Myburgh said an altercation in which the accused was involved in, allegedly took place prior to the gate incident. “[The student] went to one of the hostels on campus where there was [allegedly] a confrontation, and he had an angry rampage which led him to [allegedly] damage and break the signage”.

The name of the hostel where the confrontation took place was not disclosed.

After the arrest the NWU filed a case of malicious damage to property against the student. The last court appearance was on 27 March and the case was postponed to 2 June.