Free State University Rector Jonathan Jansen says the students involved in the race row at the varsity will probably make a public apology before the end of the month.

Jansen was speaking at the Cape Town Press Club on his handling of the Reitz Four issue.

He said the apology would serve as a catalyst for the healing process.

Jansen was both applauded and criticized last month when he announced that the university had pardoned the four and they could continue their studies if they wanted to.

The four students, residents of the all-white Reitz hostel, were expelled for making a video which showed them feeding black university workers food which had apparently been urinated on.