Student leaders up for murder
2008-02-26 13:38
Polokwane - Three student leaders at the University of Limpopo have been accused of throwing a fellow student out of a moving taxi, killing him.
A meeting was held between the Student Representative Council (SRC) and vice chancellor Professor Mahlo Mokgalong on Monday about expelling the students pending the outcome of their trial.
Professor Mokgalong said he could not comment on Tuesday because university protocol was strict about all media statements being made through spokesperson Kgalema Mohuba.
Mohuba could not be reached for comment, however.
But one member of the SRC, who asked not to be named, confirmed that it was agreed that the three students not be allowed back on campus.
"Although we are happy about the law taking its course, we stressed at the meeting that the three students are no longer accepted on campus," he said.
The students, George Tswai, 24, Tivane Selomola, 22, and Raymond Mavelevele, 23, are charged with the murder of fellow student Nkosinathi Mhlongo, 22.
Mhlongo, a BA Communications student, was thrown out of a moving taxi in Mankweng near Polokwane on Friday evening.
The students were returning from the Union Buildings in Pretoria where they had submitted a memorandum to education minister Naledi Pandor about rising university fees.
The three accused were not asked to plead to charges of murder when they appeared in the Mankweng magistrate's court on Monday.
The case was postponed to March 3 for their bail applications.
Selomola, also known as "Straw", is chairperson of the South African Students Congress on campus, while Tswai and Mavelevele are with the Student Union Christian Association (SUCA) where Tswai is chairperson and Mavelevele is a committee member.
Other students who witnessed the incident told police that the fighting was fuelled by alcohol and began when they were travelling through Naboomspruit.
Mhlongo was allegedly cornered at the back of the taxi and kicked and punched when he criticised the three for making allegations against another student who wasn't there to defend himself.
Mhlongo's head was also bashed against the side of the taxi before he was eventually thrown out at Mankweng.