Fort Hare student murders: Police baffled by second killing in two weeks

Students from the University of Fort Hare (UFH) are living in fear after a 30-year-old male — believed to be registered at the institution — was stabbed to death in the wee hours of Saturday on High Street in Alice, Eastern Cape.

Fear grips Fort Hare following two student murders in two weeks

As reported by Dispatch Live, the 30-year-old, whose evidence was crucial in the homicide investigation of her friend Yonela Boli, was walking with a group of mates when he was stabbed in the upper regions of his torso by an unidentified assailant.

According to police spokesperson Brigadier Tembinkosi Kinana, the Fort Hare student died upon arrival at Alice’s Victoria Hospital.

“He was treated by paramedics and rushed to hospital afterwards, where he succumbed to his wound upon arrival,” Kinana noted in a statement.

Ironically, the student, whose identity has been concealed out of respect for this grieving family, died on the same day his friend, Boli, was buried in Seplan, a village situated in Cala, Eastern Cape.

Growing concerns about safety for UFH students heighten

The homicide investigation of the 30-year-old student has hit a brick wall, in the crucial first 48 hours. No suspects have been identified and even worse, the death hampers the probe into the murder of Boli, who was stabbed to death on Wednesday 8 February.

At this time, Alice authorities are cautious about revealing too much about where the investigations are. However, the news of the male student’s killing, which was confirmed in a letter sent to UFH Dean of students Malinge Gqeba, has heightened fears of safety for students living in Fort Hare.

In 2019, a total of at least 10 students were killed in violent encounters. At this time, police have not released updates on which of these homicides have been solved.

This is a developing story.