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04 October 2021 | Story Nonsindiso Qwabe | Photo Supplied
Executive Director of Student Affairs, Mr Temba Hlasho, pays tribute to Sigcino Zimba, Thabani Manqele, and Wonder Dlamini.
The unexpected death of three University of the Free State students has been described as the loss of three young minds who represented the hope and aspiration of their families and communities.

These words reverberated throughout the sombre, yet celebratory combined service held in memory of the three University of the Free State students who passed away in two separate incidents in Phuthaditjhaba and on the Bloemfontein Campus in September.

The hybrid memorial service took place on Thursday 30 September, with all the speakers describing the loss of the young lives as a loss to humanity, as the world now being void of three bright young minds who wanted to change their own lives, as well as the lives of their families and communities.

Sigcino Zimba and Thabani Manqele lost their lives after a horrific shooting incident that took place at their off-campus residence in Phuthaditjhaba. Zimba died at the scene of the crime on Wednesday, 22 September 2021. Manqele passed away in hospital the following day.

On the Bloemfontein Campus, Wonder Dlamini, a resident of the Abraham Fischer residence, also passed away on 22 September. 

The memorial service – a celebration of life – remembered the young students as committed and determined young men who wanted to bring change to their lives and those of their families. Speaker after speaker described the passing of the students as a shock that has left the entire institution reeling.

Dr Molapo Qhobela, Vice-Rector: Institutional Change, Strategic Partnerships and Societal Impact, said the three showed great promise. “The academic transcripts of Zimba and Manqele bear testimony to their determination. The young men displayed commitment to their education, despite unorthodox conditions imposed by COVID-19. Wonder was on his way to becoming an engineer.”

Several speakers shared messages of support to the families of the deceased.

Mr Temba Hlasho, Executive Director: Student Affairs, said the lives of the three students were cut short in the prime of their lives. “The complexities of our unequal societies tell us that our students at university are here to take their families out of poverty. So, if a young man’s life is taken away from us, we are losing future leaders. As educators and student affairs practitioners, our responsibility and role are to protect students, and to make sure that students are studying in a conducive environment. But our country’s crime rate fails us.”

His sentiments were echoed by Prof Pearl Sithole, Vice-Principal: Academic and Research on the Qwaqwa Campus, who said South Africa was too silent about being the violence capital of the world. “As a campus, we did not expect to be losing two students at this time in the manner that we’ve lost them. Institutions are working so hard to educate students, and then members of the South African community take a gun and remove any shred of integrity that we were trying to build. It is unacceptable that someone could use a gun as doom.  Maybe we are too quiet about things happening in South Africa. You cannot be the capital of violence in the world and say nothing in reflection on that status.”

Dlamini was laid to rest in Mpumalanga, and Zimba and Manqele in KwaZulu-Natal.

News Archive

UFS hikers to Cape Town reflect on their journey
2014-05-26

 

For the four volunteers from the university who are currently on their way to the Cape on foot, every hour of every day is a victory.

It is three weeks since two employees from the University of the Free State (UFS), Adéle van Aswegen and Ntokozo Nkabinde, together with two other Bloemfontein residents, Nico Piedt and Ronel Warner, left Bloemfontein on fóót for the Cape, in order to highlight the problem of food insecurity among students.

On Sunday 18 May they crossed the halfway mark at Beaufort West and will conclude their journey on Tuesday 3 June in Cape Town.

This is what the hikers have to say after three weeks on the road:

Adéle van Aswegen
It isn’t only a physical journey, but rather an emotional journey you undertake. You learn what it means to be truly thankful for basic things like clothes, a place to sleep and food.

Nico Piedt
I know what it feels like to survive on only a glass of water in your stomach – a cup of weak tea if you’re lucky – for the whole day. If I can help (through the hike) to give someone a better chance in life, then it is worthwhile.

Ronel Warner
You think and grow simultaneously. As you plan every stride ahead of you, you also plan your life ahead.

Ntokozo Nkabinde
You don’t walk for yourself. You undertake this journey, maybe because you want to help someone, but this journey is actually in honour of something bigger and you just have to endure.”

These boots are made for walking ... to Cape Town (Article of 02 May 2014)
“Aren’t auntie and them hungry yet?” Country folk worried about NSH hikers (15 May 2014)

Daily updates:
(You can also follow us on @UFSweb for daily tweets)

Day 33: 2 June 2014
13:40
20 km
Sunset Beach, Cape Town

Day 32: 1 June 2014
16:05
26 km
Mervyn and Sanet Wessels, Belville

Day 31: 31 May 2014
16:31
39.6 km
Rhonell and Gavin Julain, Paarl

Day 30: 30 May 2014
14:00
16 km
Monte Rosa, Rawsonville

Day 29: 29 May 2014
13:16
31 km
The Habit, Worcester

Day 28: 28 May 2014
11:00
22.4 km
Monte Roza, De doorns

Day 27: 27 May 2014
17:00
21.1 km
Karoo Hotel

Day 26: 26 May 2014
18:27
43.3 km
Tows river

Day 25: 25 May 2014
12:18
Lord Milner Hotel, Matjiesfontein

Day 24: 24 May 2014
16:30
42 km
Laingsburg Country Lodge

Day 23: 23 May 2014
17:32
41.8 km
Vergenoeg

Day 22: 22 May 2014
16:42
43 km
Assendelft Lodge and Bush Camp, Prins Albert

Day 21: 21 May 2014
15:09
42 km
Leeu Gamka Hotel

Day 20: 20 May 2014
13:39
20 km
Alida, Springfontein

Day 19: 19 May 2014
12:31
27.6 km
Teri Moja Game Lodge

Day 18: 18 May 2014
First rest day
Nagenoeg Guesthouse, Beaufort West

Day 17: 17 May 2014
19:30
62.3 km
Nagenoeg Guesthouse, Beaufort West

Day 16: 16 May 2014
13:00
14 km
Taaibochfontein

Day 15: 15 May 2014
16:03
32 km
Travalia, Three Sisters

Day 14: 14 May 2014
18:33
43 km
Joalani Guest Farm

Day 13: 13 May 2014
17:30
33 km
Die Rondawels

Day 12: 12 May 2014
16:49
40 km
Aandrus B&B in Richmond

Day 11: 11 May 2014
39 km
Wortelfontein (Magdel and Christiaan)

Day 10: 10 May 2014
15:44
34 km
Hanover Lodge

Day 9: 09 May 2014
40.8 km
Camping between Colesberg and Hanover

Day 8: 08 May 2014
15:25
33.7 km
Colesberg, The Lighthouse Guesthouse

Day 7: 07 May 2014
15:08
23 km
Orange River Lodge

Day 6: 06 May 2014
15:57
51.06 km
Gariep Forever Resort

Day 5: 05 May 2014
12:18
28 km
Rondefontein

Day 4: 04 May 2014
15:27
35 km
Trompsburg: Fox Den

Day 3: 03 May 2014
17:30
46.74 km
Edenburg Country Lodge (Hotel)

Day 2: 02 May 2014
11:44 am
15.3 km
Tom's Place

Day 1: 01 May 2014
32 km
Leeuwberg

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