POLOKWANE – The EFF student council (EFFSC) of the TUT Polokwane campus has called for the closure of the Landing student residence in Ladanna following the fatal stabbing of a student over the weekend.

According to earlier information supplied by the police, the incident occurred on Sunday, but it has since been established that the stabbing occurred on Saturday morning. The police supplied the victim’s name as that of Ngwako Moako, but this was factually incorrect. The victim’s identity is Andries Rapetsoa, a student in the Management Sciences Faculty.

The call for a closure of the residence is one of several demands made by the council and EFFSC TUT Polokwane Campus convenor, Kopano Lethuba in an online state suggested that students should not leave the residence until the perpetrators are found.

Police spokesperson, Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said preliminary police investigations revealed that a group of TUT students were drinking at a pub in Ladanna when an argument ensued. 

“The argument continued to the residence and the suspect, who is reportedly from Kwa Zulu-Natal, allegedly stabbed the victim with a knife at around 02:35 and has since fled the scene. No arrests have been made,” Mojapelo said. 

The victim was certified dead at the scene by paramedics.

“Anyone with information is requested to contact the Crime Stop number on 08600 10111 or report to the nearest police station,” Mojapelo said.

In the statement, Lethuba also called for councillors to be dispatched to the residence, adding that students were left traumatised.
“We request that those who were directly involved in the fight be taken through an interrogation process in order to find out what caused the fight and who caused it,” he said.

Lethuba added that failure to respond to the demands before end of business on Monday would result in a peaceful protest in the coming days.

Attempts to get comment from TUT Campus Director, Walter Tshamano were unsuccessful at the time of publishing but a follow-up story will follow.