Free State High Court Judge Faan Hancke has been replaced as the chairman of the Free State University council, the University announced on Saturday.

Another Judge, Ian Van der Merwe was appointed as the new chairman, said its spokesperson Lacea Loader.

Hancke leaves his position amidst problems at the university surrounding the Reitz saga and the decision by the newly appointed rector Jonathan Jansen to pardon the four students.

However, Loader said the decision to replace him had nothing to do with the developments at the university.

"His term expired and there's nothing more to it," she said.

Earlier on Saturday, more than 300 Cosatu affiliates marched through the Bloemfontein city centre and handed over a memorandum to the Department of Higher Education.

The memorandum calls or the sacking of both Hancke and Jansen from their positions.

Protestors said the were angered that Jansen dropped the charges against the four students before "justice was done".

The "Reitz four" as the students have become known, are accused of humiliating five black staff members in the initiation-type ceremony in 2007, which they filmed.

The employees, four women and a man, were seen on their hands and knees eating food which had apparently been urinated into by a white student.

The matter is still in court.

"Professor Jansen must just go. He will never help us transform that university," provincial secretary Sam Mashinini said.

He said they were prepared to intensify their actions to ensure that Jansen leaves his position.