The four former University of Free State students known as the "Reitz Four" have been sentenced to a R20 000 fine each or 12 months imprisonment in the Bloemfontein Magistrate's court.

RC Malherbe, Johnny Roberts, Schalk van der Merwe and Danie Grobler had earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of crimen injuria.

The charges relate to their humiliation of five black workers in an initiation-type ceremony in 2007, which they filmed while living at the University's now-closed Reitz men's residence.

Bloemfontein Chief Magistrate Mziwonke Hinxa sentenced the four young men to a further six months imprisonment suspended for five years on certain conditions.

The ANC has since welcomed the ruling, saying that the sentence "is appropriate and befitting the crime".

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