Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande, is deeply concerned and has called for a HAWKS investigation after new information seems to have emerged around the circumstances around the death by drowning of a young North West University first year student in 2012.
Minister Nzimande said this in response to alleged new information which suggests the existence of video footage in relation to the student’s death, written statements by former security personnel that worked at the university at the time of the incident and audio footage supporting the view that some crucial information could have been missed from the investigation of the incident by the university.
“These are still allegations but to put them to rest, there is now a need to hand over this investigation to the Hawks. I will also engage with the university so that we can all cooperate in the interests of justice, getting to the truth and putting the matter to rest so that the family of this young man can also find peace and closure on this sad and tragic incident,” Minister Nzimande said.
This information has come from an independent organisation of alumni from various South African higher education and training institutions called the Higher Education Transformation Network.
In January 2012 a young first year student at the North West University’s Potchefstroom campus, Thabang Makhoang, died by drowning in the swimming pool of the campus during an “orientation” programme for first year students.
“The allegations contained in this new information from the HETN are quite serious and cannot be ignored. We have to get to the root of this, a young life was lost here and unless these are thoroughly investigated, this will remain a dark blot on the institution and the sector generally,” Minister Nzimande said.
An investigation by the university reported that Mr Makhoang died at an even dubbed the “Fruit Festival”, but could not explain how he drowned in the presence of many other participants without the incident being noticed by anyone. The investigating team, however, exonerated any individual or entity about the incident.
The DHET followed this up with a request for further investigation by the South African Human Rights Commission to establish whether or not “initiation” activities were being practiced at the University; establish if such practices infringed on human dignity of students and assess any human rights violations during orientation activities. A report to the Minister is still outstanding.
