It is unusually quiet at the College of the Transfiguration as the students have taken an early Christmas break after their end-of-year tests were cancelled after the murder of Rev Clive Newman.
It is unusually quiet at the College of the Transfiguration as the students have taken an early Christmas break after their end-of-year tests were cancelled after the murder of Rev Clive Newman.
William Domires, the college’s rector said the cancellation was meant to give students “time to be among their families” as they were still reeling with shock after the murder of their beloved priest and lecturer Rev Clive Newman. Newman’s decomposing body was found covered in a duvet in his bedroom at the college’s residence on Monday morning after he had not arrived for a class.
His car, a metallic dark blue Hyundai (DMC 932EC), was reported stolen. Police spokesperson, Inspector Sherolene Williams said that they are still waiting for a forensic report from Port Elizabeth to determine the type of weapon used to inflict “severe injuries” to his head. No arrests have been made and the police are investigating the murder case as well as the theft of the motor car.
Domires said they have since beefed up security at the college. He said the murder was the first incident of this kind to have taken place at the insitution since he joined the college 18 months ago. Meanwhile the students have put together an album of photographs of Newman to give to his family.
“The family has decided that any donations should go to the College of the Transfiguration for use in projects Clive supported,” he added. The projects include Makanaskop home, Temba Hospital, Eluxolweni Shelter for street children and the Grahamstown Correctional Centre. According to Domires, Newman was due to be promoted to the post of college chaplain in January 2010. “We’ll be looking into some of his ideas to see if we can make the college’s dreams come true,” he said.
The college is also considering publishing a collection of Newman’s lectures under the title Anglican Worship. “I’ll remember the beautiful way in which he conducted church services, he had a very unique way of leading the worship,” Domires remembers. “He was a scholar and a true gentleman.”
He also mentioned that this has been the second tragedy the college has exprienced as four weeks ago, a staff member in the maintenance department committed suicide at his home. For information on how you can donate funds to the continuation of Newman’s work, visit the college’s website www.cott.co.za
