By Jabulani Mathonsi
Despite securing victory in the DUT SRC elections, members of the EFFYC disrupted the inauguration to highlight the circumstances surrounding the death of student Ayanda Ngobese on 15 September.
Security and DUT personnel attempted to restore order during the ceremony, held at the Steve Biko Campus. The inauguration comes after the Economic Freedom Fighters Youth Command (EFFYC) celebrated securing a clean sweep in the DUT SRC elections marking its seventh consecutive victory.
DUT EFFYC Chairperson, Midlands Branch, Herman Hlengwa, said they wanted management to acknowledge and investigate the death of the DUT Midlands campus student, who died during the EFFYC manifesto launch in an incident involving a bus contracted to the University.
“When the bus hit a student in the parking lot, 55 minutes passed and the ambulance had not arrived. When we asked the security company (on campus), they said management had instructed them not to attend to students belonging to the EFFYC, on campus,” said Hlengwa.
As the EFFYC they felt the incident had not received sufficient attention from the institution.
“Even Durban campus students were not aware of the incident, and that the bus is contracted to the institution,” explained Hlengwa.
The abrupt end of the inauguration drew mixed reactions among students. Some said they were disappointed as they had been waiting to hear what the newly sworn-in SRC had to say.
DUT student, Sakhile Magubane, criticised the EFFYC’s approach.
“We need leaders who are serious, not chaotic. You can’t interrupt a program that is meant to celebrate you and your fellow comrades. We were still waiting to hear what the newly elected president was going to say, then this happened,” said Sakhile Magubane, a DUT student.
Ayanda Ngobese’s death is still under investigation by the South African Police Service.
