Staff Reporter.
The University of the Free State (UFS) has labelled the attack on students, which led to the deaths of one UFS student and one TVET College student, as senseless.
This, as the police report that four gun-wielding men on Wednesday morning accosted students, demanding laptops and cellphones, among others, and shot at them. As a result, two students – one from the UFS and one from the local TVET College – died whilst two other students were left injured and had to be hospitalised.
The UFS spokesperson, Lacea Loader, said that the university wants to express its sadness and shock following the deaths of its students at the Phuthaditjhaba campus in Qwaqwa, in the Free State.
The group of students, residing at Botjhabela Village, were at their rental accommodation when three robbers wearing balaclavas attacked them at about 00:40.
According to police, they were summoned to the shooting incident in Botjhabela Village at about 01:00.
“Upon their arrival, they found a group of students believed to be studying at the University of the Free State, at QwaQwa branch (sic). The police found two male bodies on the scene with fatal gunshot wounds,” said police spokesperson Motantsi Makhele.
He said they were identified by their friends.
Police were investigating two murders, two attempted murders and house robbery.
“In the second incident, a student residing at one of the men’s residences on the Bloemfontein campus was found in his room this morning (Wednesday). It is not clear when he passed away,” the university said.
The South African Union of Students (SAUS) conveyed its heartfelt condolences, prayers and thoughts to the family, friends and fellow students of the deceased students.
“We further would like to wish the two students who are currently in hospital, fighting for their lives, a speedy recovery. The union will be visiting the family, fellow students and the community of Botjhabela village,” SAUS spokesperson Asive Dlanjwa said in a statement.
The union called on UFS and Higher Health to provide psychological support to the students left traumatised and distraught by the robbery.