Still no justice for slain student
More than 200 students from the Durban University of Technology (DUT) took to the streets on Friday demanding justice for a student who was shot dead by security guards during a protest on campus in February 2019.
The student representative council (SRC), led by the EFF Student Command (EFFSC), gathered at the Curries Fountain Sports Ground holding placards that read: “Name the Student Centre building in commemoration of Mlungisi Madonsela”, “Arrest the killers of Mlungisi Madonsela” and “NPA should review the murder case”.
The students want the institution to take action against the security guards who they claim are responsible for Madonsela’s death.
Madonsela was allegedly shot by a security guard from a company (Excellence Security Services contracted to DUT for security services. Madonsela was a third-year business administration student from Jozini, northern Kwazulu-natal.
Soon after his death, the university established an independent inquiry to investigate the cause of his demise.
The commission was chaired by former deputy president of the Supreme Court of Appeals, Judge Khayelihle Mthiyane.
The commission was aimed at also looking at injuries suffered by other students and staff members on February 5, 2019, the day Madonsela was killed.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) declined to prosecute due to lack of evidence, while DUT shut its campuses on Friday because of the march.
Alan Khan, DUT senior director of Corporate Affairs, said this was done to ensure the safety and security of staff and students.
“In the past, such planned protest gatherings have turned violent, therefore the university wants to mitigate the risks attached to the protest action,” Khan said.
Singing struggle songs before handing over the memorandum, the group called the Justice for Mlungisi Madonsela Committee (JMMC) wants an inquest opened at the Durban Magistrate’s court; a student centre named after Madonsela; and for February 5 to be declared a university holiday, among other demands.
JMMC spokesperson Sandiso Buthelezi said it had been three years since Madonsela’s death, and yet very little had been done to honour him.
He said the students, as well as Madonsela’s family, were still looking for answers from the university.
“We have made simple demands to the university in terms of honouring Madonsela. We have also asked the university to involve and compensate the family, however, they (DUT) are refusing to do that.”