A 24-year old Walter Sisulu University student was fatally stabbed during an altercation by a fellow student at St Patricks Court residence in Southernwood on Monday 30 August 2021.
The university confirmed the deceased was a 3rd year Human Resource Management student, and the murder suspect in his 3rd year in Mechanical Engineering studies. “The dearly departed student is from Duncan Village outside East London and the accused, a 3rd-year Mechanical Engineering student, is from Cambridge, East London.”said WSU spokesperson Yonela Tukwayo
At approximately 20:05pm the suspect was reportedly busy cleaning his room, while another student walked by and made a comment about him using muthi to wash his room, it is alleged that he did not like the comment.
“The two students then started to argue and they fought. Other students managed to separate them and the one student who is now deceased went back to his room.
The suspect followed him, according to witnesses when the suspect was at the door of the deceaseds’ room he was already holding a knife in his hand.
The deceased then picked up a pair of scissors to defend himself. The two continued arguing inside the room until the deceased turned his back to the suspect.
It was the time that the suspect stabbed the deceased twice in the upper body and he fell to the ground.” Said police spokesperson Captain Hazel Mqala
Mqala said that the suspect then took the deceased to hospital with the help of someone staying at the residence. “He was then certified dead at the hospital and the suspect was treated for a minor injuries.” she said
“The crime office members went to the hospital and arrested the 29-year-old. He is facing a charge of murder and will appear in the East London Magistrates’ Court on 1 September 2021.”
It is reported that the University Student Affairs Unit immediately responded to the incident and was with the family of the deceased in hospital until his untimely passing.
The Vice Chancellor, Professor Songca is said to have described the death of the student as an unfortunate act of violence that should have never have happened in any area of our society.
“As people we come from different cultures, different belief systems and different family set ups. We must be tolerant to such differences. This unfortunate incident has now alerted the University to the need to institute more programs that encourage social cohesion and fast track the implementation of the Gender Based Violence Initiative currently hosted in the VCs Office,” said Prof Songca.
The university said it had arranged group and individual counselling sessions for other students at the residence who were affected by the incident.
“Students who experience challenges are encouraged to approach the campus’ Student Development and Support Services Department for intervention to deal with conflict related issues.The university sends its condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the departed student.” said Tukwayo
