Johannesburg - Parliament's portfolio committee on higher education and training on Friday welcomed the expedited forensic investigation into the killing of a Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) student.
The student was shot dead at the TUT north campus in Sohshanguve following scuffles that took place after a SRC voting dispute on Thursday night. Witnesses to the SRC fracas said members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) shot at students with live ammunition, and one was killed while another was wounded.
Committee chairwoman, Connie September, cautioned university management to avoid calling in the police in situations until conciliation avenues had been exhausted, but also said the university needed to report back to the committee on the findings of the forensic probe.
"Police should at all times practise restraint and caution at campuses when it comes to confrontation with students. The committee will ask student representatives to also explain as well as refer the matter to Portfolio Committee on Police to assist with investigations," said September.
Police watchdog, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, said it would investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. Spokesman Moses Dlamini said the post-mortem of the dead student would be held on Friday at Garankuwa Mortuary and that the docket would be collected the same day for further investigations.
TUT has launched a full-scale forensic investigation. Spokeswoman Willa de Ruyter said the name of the student will be released once the family has been informed, adding that the university will also assist the family with the student's funeral.