The Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande, has learnt with sadness of the passing of the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) student, Mr Benjamin Phehla, on Thursday, 20 October 2016.
The Department of Higher Education and Training has been informed that Mr Phehla died when a car crashed into a crowd of protesting students in the streets of Soshanguve.
“We have indeed learnt with sadness of the unfortunate passing of Mr Phehla, a student who was looking forward to a bright future as a professional. On behalf of the Department and our government, we join President Jacob Zuma in passing our heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the family”, says Minister Nzimande.
Minister Nzimande also learnt with shock at the reported shooting of protesting students at the University of Witwatersrand. The reports indicate that the South African Police Service in responding to protests on campus, fired rubber bullets to disperse the crowd as part of crowd control. This has led to injuries of students, including student leaders.
“We call for calm and restraint from both sides, we believe that the current impasse can be resolved through dialogue and not through violence. We are pleased that the matter has been reported to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) and we call on the police to exercise maximum restraint and operate within the law”, Minister Nzimande further said.
Minister Nzimande also calls on members of the public, particularly motorists, to be vigilant when driving in areas where institutions of higher learning are located and to be on the lookout for protesting students.
The Ministry calls on all South Africans to work with government and all stakeholders to firstly save the academic programme and resume classes, whilst there is continued dialogue in responding to the demands of students.
Enquiries:
Harold Maloka
Cell: 082 847 9799
