Social media tell of the shock and heartache as the news broke last weekend of the death of Rhodes University BSc honours student Lelona Fufu, 23, on her way to her graduation ceremony on Thursday.
Social media tell of the shock and heartache as the news broke last weekend of the death of Rhodes University BSc honours student Lelona Fufu, 23, on her way to her graduation ceremony on Thursday.
"Lelona werrrr rrrr you?" tweeted Muanda b.Dombaxi at 4.17pm on Thursday – just two hours before the science faculty graduation ceremony at the Monument. At 10.13pm, Cebisa tweeted, "My friend didn't pitch up for Grad, her parents were there and last saw her this morning. If you saw Lelona Fufu by any chance pls DM me."
The university community has been rocked by the death of the student from Motherwell township in Port Elizabeth, who was found dead with stab wounds, near Coega, on Friday morning. She was due to receive her honours degree in mathematics and mathematical statistics.
An official statement released last weekend by Rhodes University reads as follows:
"The University regrets to announce the death of Lelona Thembakazi Fufu, a Rhodes University BSc honours student who was due to graduate on Thursday (12 April 2012) evening.
According to the family, Ms Fufu's death was confirmed by the police on Friday afternoon. She was last seen on Thursday at about 14h00 when she left her home in Motherwell, Port Elizabeth, to hitchhike to Grahamstown, where she was to prepare for the Thursday evening graduation ceremony.
The family, who had arranged to travel to Grahamstown later in the afternoon lost contact with her after 14h30, and reported her missing to the police after 19h00 on Thursday following a fruitless search. The University extends our sympathy to his family, friends and colleagues. "
Student newspaper The Oppidan Press reported on Saturday that the communications officer for the Motherwell police station, Andre Beetge, had confirmed that Fufu’s body was found near the old Coega Hotel on Friday morning and that she had sustained three to four major stab wounds, and it was presumed she died of those injuries.
According to a report in the The Herald, Beetge said Fufu had hitch-hiked alone. The family had arranged to travel to Grahamstown later and lost contact with her after 2.30pm. After fruitless searches, the family then reported her missing in the evening,” Beetge told The Herald.
Police found her body fully clothed with several stab wounds to the chest and neck on Friday morning. We suspect that she was also robbed. A post-mortem will be carried out.”
Facebook comments on Grocott's Online over the past few days summed up the tragedy of Fufu's death. Ingrid Newman commented, "What a beautiful young woman. What a tragic waste. I have lost 3 people in the Eastern Cape to senseless murder. So sad. Such talented and precious people living in that part of the world. A place that is so damaged on so many levels. I so wish it was different."
And Sioux McKenna commented, "Too terrible for us to comprehend. May her family find strength to face this ordeal and may there be justice on those who took away her life. My thoughts are with all those who loved this bright young woman."
In an interview with The Oppidan Press, the Rhodes Dean of Students, Dr Vivian de Klerk expressed her shock and sadness about Fufu’s murder. “It’s the tragic loss of a young career, and a waste of a fine young life,” De Klerk said.
De Klerk added that Fufu’s mother had collapsed and was in hospital in Port Elizabeth.
