Police arrest three students for murder

Police in Soshanguve have arrested three students of the Tshwane University of Technology after the murder of a fellow student, police spokesperson Warrant Officer Matthews Nkoadi said on Monday afternoon.

The male students, aged between 21 and 22, were arrested after a first-year language practice student was beaten to death during a fight between rival groups in the early hours of Sunday at the institution’s Soshanguve North campus.

Nkoadi said the incident happened after rival groups of students from KwaZulu-Natal were involved in a heated argument after drinking at the tavern next to the campus.

“Apparently the students started fighting at the tavern just across the road of the university before going onto the campus where one of the students was beaten and stoned to death,” he said.

Nkoadi added that the fight was between two groups of students from Kwa Nongoma and Vryheid in KZN.

“Based on the information that we have gathered so far, it seems like the fight started back home last year, so they continued having grudges against each other until they came to Gauteng.”

He confirmed that one student died at the scene next to Alex Residence on the campus. A 20-year-old student was stabbed and left to fight for his life at the George Mukhari hospital in Ga-Rankuwa after the incident. Two other students are still in a critical but stable condition after sustaining stab wounds during the brawl.

TUT spokesperson Willa de Ruyter, confirmed the arrests and conveyed the university’s message of condolences to the family of the deceased. “We are saddened by the incident that happened on one of our campuses at Soshanguve.

The fact that one of their own passed away, is psychologically and emotionally bad for the students as they are preparing for their exams at the moment,” she said. De Ruyter also said that in addition to the police investigation, the university has launched an internal investigation and a statement with further details will soon be released. She also appealed to the students to be calm and allow the police and the institution to handle the investigation.

De Ruyter and Nkoadi agreed that the name of the deceased student will only be released once his parents have been informed. The arrested three students will appear in the Soshanguve Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday on charges of murder, attempted murder and assault with grievous bodily harm.

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