SONGS LEAD TO STUDENT’S DEATHPOLITICAL bickering apparently led to the death of a 22-year-old University of Limpopo student on Saturday morning.
It is alleged that three students, thought to be members of the South African Student Congress (Sasco), killed Mr Nkosinathi Lucky Mhlongo, a member of the Student Christian Organisation (SCO), following an argument over struggle songs. Mhlongo’s body was found on the street next to Mankweng Hospital where it is believed he was thrown out of a moving taxi. Three men, Tebane Serumula (22), Raymond Mabelebele (23) and George Tswai (24) were arrested a few hours later. The students were returning from Tshwane where they took part in a march organised by the South African Union of Students.
It is alleged that the suspects were singing struggle songs and insisted that SCO members sing along. The SCO members refused as, according to one of them, they sing Christian songs, not struggle songs.
One of the SCO members, Mr Mandla Manda said the men at first assaulted other members but turned on Mhlongo when the group got to Mookgopong where the three taxis they were travelling in had to refuel. Manda said he and several other SCO members left the taxi for another one, leaving Mhlongo and some female members of SCO in the company of the three men. He claimed the three then assaulted Mhlongo and Manda believed he was already dead when "his body was thrown out of the moving taxi". Manda said the driver was aware of the assault but did not stop. The University of Limpopo spokesperson, Mr Kgalema ‘DK’ Mohuba condemned the killing, describing it as barbaric and conveyed condolences to Mhlongo’s family and the SCO.
"The university’s duty is to teach students and prepare them for future leadership roles. We don’t harbour criminals, they belong in prison. We are going to deal with them harshly." Mohuba also called for political tolerance among students. Sasco provincial chairperson, Mr Richard Ramashiya denied that the organisation was involved, saying only Tebane is a Sasco member and has been suspended. He accused SCO of using the incident to score "cheap political points ahead of the elections". "This was just an isolated incident of students fighting."
He then contradicted himself, saying SCO members were the first ones to assault Sasco members on the way to Tshwane, which led Sasco members to "mobilise" for revenge. "When the SCO members realised they were now the minority and were going to be assaulted when they got back to campus, three of them jumped out of a moving vehicle and that is when the deceased was allegedly hit by a car." Police confirmed the incident but could not state when precisely Mhlongo died. Inspector Malan Nchabeleng said: "We have arrested three suspects and investigations continue". The three men appeared in the Mankweng magistrate’s court on Monday and their case was postponed to 3 March. They will remain in custody.
by Kgaogelo Magolego on Tue, 2008-02-26 13:24. Capricorn Voice: News | 
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