Johannesburg - It’s been an emotional few days for the Wits community as they mourn the loss of seven students killed in a minibus accident on Sunday night, near Mokopane, Limpopo.
There’s a sense of loss in the university’s community - from students to staff, alumni and campus control.
On the stairs of the Great Hall a sign says: “In solidarity with our brothers and sisters. Remember May 1”.
The sign, which students stopped to read on their way to class, was surrounded by candles. Some bowed their heads, while others held hands as the reality of what happened set in.
On Thursday a campus control officer, who asked to remain anonymous, told The Star that one of the students killed was his colleague’s child.
“We are all in pain; it’s affecting us too. We are feeling this, especially as parents. It makes you think and worry,” the man said, shaking his head.
Wits Campus Control liaison manager Lucky Khumela said the girl’s parents “have gone up to Limpopo to identify her body but it’s very hard, because many of the bodies were burnt beyond recognition”.
“Just to see what these parents are going through is terrible, we want them to know that we are here to support them through this,” he said.
An engineering student who identified herself only as Sindi said one of the students killed was a year above her.
“I may not have known him but at the end of the day, we are all family and we’re all feeling it. It’s really sad, it could have been any of us,” she said.
Another student, Riccardo, said the death of the students made him realise that you never know what can happen. “We can plan and get all our assignments ready for Friday, but you don’t know if you’ll live to see tomorrow.”
A memorial service was held at the Wits Junction Residence.
The Star
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