Premier, ministers bid farewell to UL student Thabi Tsebe
Premier Phophi Ramathuba and other dignitaries attended the funeral of UL medical student Mathaba Petra Tsebe, who died near campus on October 4.
POLOKWANE – High-profile government officials, university management and scores of medical students gathered at Christ the King Academy in Nobody village over the weekend to lay to rest Mathaba Petra Tsebe, the fourth-year University of Limpopo student whose tragic death has gripped the province.
Affectionately known as “Thabi”, she was a 22-year-old Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery student.
Her emotional send-off was attended by prominent dignitaries, including Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba, Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela and University of Limpopo vice-chancellor Dr Jeffrey Mabelebele.
‘We mourn for the dreams cruelly taken away’
Delivering the eulogy, Ramathuba expressed the loss felt across the province.
“We mourn this loss deeply. We mourn not only for the life Thabi lived, but also for the many years, opportunities, and dreams that have been cruelly taken away,” she said.
The Premier described Tsebe, who was also the chairperson of the University of Limpopo Medical Students Association, as a remarkable young woman defined by promise, discipline and determination.
She noted that although Tsebe would never get to wear the white doctor’s coat she worked so hard for, her legacy of academic excellence would endure.
How she was found
The funeral followed days of brewing anxiety on campus after Tsebe’s body was discovered at around 6:00 AM on October 4.
A passerby spotted the body, partially clothed, along Sovenga Street, near the university’s perimeter fence.
A bag containing her identity document and her NSFAS card was found left next to her body.
Inquest opened
Mankweng police initially stated that preliminary investigations showed no visible external injuries, raising the possibility that she may have accidentally stumbled into the trench.
However, given the location as a known crime hotspot and the state of her clothing, they opened an inquest.
Detectives are currently waiting on definitive post-mortem autopsy reports to clarify the precise cause of death.
University implements security upgrades
The university has since moved to assure students of their safety.
Following an on-campus memorial service last Thursday, Mabelebele confirmed that the institution is implementing urgent security upgrades, which include:
- A joint venture with Polokwane Municipality to erect street lights
- Increased physical border patrols
- More surveillance cameras
