The ANC Youth League has threatened to shut down the University of the Free State unless Rector Jonathan Jansen apologises for retracting charges against the Reitz Four.

The Youth League is calling for his immediate resignation, saying his retraction meant he condoned racism on campus.

Three of the Reitz Four appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court on Monday on charges of crimen injuria.

The trial was postponed to February 2010 to give the defence time to explore avenues of restorative justice.

However, the league's Bloemfontein chair Thabo Meeko said Jansen must apologise or lose control of his campus.

"In our view, Professor Jansen is equally a criminal like these racist students at the university. We agree with the president of the ANC — shoot and kill a criminal," he said.

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