Sgcino Zimba’s family dreamt of attending his graduation ceremony when he completed his studies but instead they ended up fetching his corpse in a body bag.
Sgcino, 22, Thobani Manqele a student at the University of Free State in QwaQwa campus and Vukani Zikalala, 23, were killed on Wednesday during a robbery that took place at Botshabela — a student residence in Phuthaditjhaba, Free State.
Sgcino’s sister Philile, 34, said Sgcino was the pride of the family as he was the first person to go to university.
“We have always joked about attending his graduation ceremony, but today we are performing a traditional ceremony so as to take his spirit back home in Estcourt, KwaZulu-Natal. Early this year, my mother used her last government grant to register him for a teaching course. He was thrilled, saying that when he is a teacher he will take us out of poverty,” she said.
Philile said when they got a call from Sgcino’s friend, the family had hoped that he was one of the two who were fighting for their lives in hospital.
“It is still very difficult for the family to come into details of his death. He had such a bright future ahead of him,” she said.
According to a friend who asked to remain anonymous, there was a group of about 15 students who had a mini party. Just as they were preparing to go their separate ways, they were attacked by three gun-wielding suspects wearing balaclavas.
“We were about to leave and Vukani was behind me when I heard a gun shot. At first I said it was just a toy gun. When I looked back Vukani was lying on the floor and three guys who had fired a further two shots ordered us to lie on the floor. They demanded our cellphones. Sneakers, jackets, just about anything that they liked in us,” he said.
He said Vukani and Sgcino died at the scene, while Manqele and another students were rushed to hospital. Sadly, Manqele succumbed to his injuries after two days.
“We are shattered and we fear for our lives as we don’t know who are those people. I haven’t been able to sleep ever since the incident happened,” he said.
Vukani’s aunt Nelly Zikalala, 40, said he was doing his second year in electrical engineering at Maluti-a-Phofung TVET College.
“We sent him to school to better himself not to come back home in a body bag. He was such a hard worker who never gave up easily. We stayed with our grandmother as his father is working piece jobs in Johannesburg. All he wanted was to build our grandmother a big house, but now his life has been cut short,” she said.
Blade Nzimande, minister of higher education and training, said he was saddened by the gruesome attack of the students.
“While the government commits to stop at nothing to provide a conducive and safe learning environment, I would like to appeal for more co-operation between institutions of higher learning and communities to ensure safety of students. I appealed to our institutions of higher learning to establish safety forums which will ensure the safety of both students and the communities,” Nzimande said.
Sifiso Mofokeng, president of student represented council in QwaQwa campus, said students were angered by this act of criminality.
“We are still waiting to hear from the provincial police on the way forward as no-one has been arrested,” he said.
Free State police spokesperson Brig Motantsi Makhele confirmed that no-one has been arrested so far.
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