POLOKWANE – A female University of Limpopo (UL) intern is in a critical but stable condition in hospital after she was allegedly stabbed at a private residence at Ga-Makanye in Mankweng on Tuesday night.

A young male suspect appeared in the Mankweng Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday in connection with the incident, the university confirmed in a statement.

Spokesperson Victor Kgomoeswana said the intern was admitted to hospital, where she is receiving medical care. The university said its emergency medical services and security personnel responded, which led to the suspect’s arrest and the intern’s quick transfer to hospital.

University pledges support

“The University has reached out to the family of the victim to offer moral support, and will also make its psychosocial services available to affected staff and students,” the statement read.

The university also condemned violence, particularly gender-based violence.

Latest in a string of incidents

The incident comes weeks after the body of 22-year-old Petra Mathaba Tsebe was found along Sovenga Street, near the university’s perimeter fence in Mankweng, on October 4. Police said she was found partially clothed with her head in a trench next to the fence, and a bag containing her identity document and NSFAS card was nearby.

Tsebe was a fourth-year MBChB student and chairperson of the University of Limpopo African Medical Students. She was laid to rest at Ga-Thoka. Her funeral was attended by Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba, Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela and UL Vice-Chancellor Dr Jeffrey Mabelebele.

In September, a 44-year-old man was arrested for the alleged murder of his girlfriend, a 37-year-old UL security officer. Police said the woman was allegedly assaulted with a hammer on campus at about 20:40 on a Saturday.