By Obakeng Maje

Potchefstroom-North West University provisional suspended the student representative councilor Orapeleng Daniel Matshediso.

The suspension came about after Matshediso was being accused of misconduct.

According to the letter that was sent to Matshediso also in our possession, he has been suspended as a president and as a member of the institutional student representative councilor.

The letter states: Please note that in terms of paragraph 5 of the students disciplinary rules of the North West University you are hereby provisionally suspended as president and member of institutional student representative council of the North West University until such time as the disciplinary hearing regarding the charges of misconduct is finalised.

In turn, Orapeleng Matshediso addressed the media this morning where states his side of the story.

This is what Matshediso had to say during his press conference.

PRESS STATEMENT: MY SUSPENSION AS SRC

“I want to inform the nation and the academic fraternity about my suspension as President of the Student Representative Council of the North-West University” he said.

BACKGROUND

“On the 17 April 2013 the Vice Chancellor of the North-West University, Dr Theuns Eloff suspended and charged the SRC President of NWU. Amongst others he charge me with: (see charge sheet) this charge comes at the time i was supposed to attend an Institutional SRC meeting on the 19th in Gauteng Vaal Campus, which i ensured that the issue of Thabang is part of the agenda” Matshediso said. Orapeleng Matshediso said this is a meeting which he was supposed to be chairing. 

“Suspension comes few days after i have visited Thabang’s mother on the 6th April 2013. She told me that as the family they want answers from the university” he adds. 

As a student leader and a patriotic citizen of the Republic, I am required to exercise allegiance to the Republic and i am further required to act in accordance with the laws of the Republic he said. 

This entails telling the truth and exposing those who want to stifle the truth and putting a veil on an important matter of national interest.

Suspended president said his sin was telling the truth, “the truth and nothing else but the truth”. “My sin is to seek an answer in a bid to ensure that the nation, in particular the family of the late Thabang Makhoang, finds closure on the mysterious death of their son” he adds.

Thabang Makhoang was a student of the North-West University and was allegedly found dead in the student swimming pool in 2012 on the 21th of January. 

To date the nation still wants answers. 

“In finding answers I made a call to the University to fully allow the re-investigation the matter.I made call supporting the Higher Education Transformation Network’s demand for a full investigation into the mysterious death of my fellow brother, colleague and student and fellow South African citizen” Matshediso said. 

“I made this call in respecting of the right to life and the right to know”.

According to university, Matshediso is prohibited to participate or attending any meetings or assemblies as a president or a member of the institutional student representative.

The disciplinary hearing will be heard on the 07th of May whereby Orapeleng Matshediso is accountable of 13 charges.

Our attempt to get Matshediso side of the story was futile as said he was busy addressing media.

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