The Rhodes University Muslim Students Association (MSA) has expressed their heartfelt condolences to family and friends of two students who drowned during a fishing outing on Saturday.
The bodies of Rizwan Bhayat and Mohammed Amin Mussa were recovered from Settlers Dam near Grahamstown on Sunday 27 July.
The Rhodes University Muslim Students Association (MSA) has expressed their heartfelt condolences to family and friends of two students who drowned during a fishing outing on Saturday.
The bodies of Rizwan Bhayat and Mohammed Amin Mussa were recovered from Settlers Dam near Grahamstown on Sunday 27 July.
The young men were members of the MSA committee. Bhayat was the president of the Association, and a third-year BCom Economics student. Mussa was the association's treasurer, and a third year BPharm Honours student.
MSA judicial member Mohammed Adam said they were all grateful to the police for conducting the search, as well as to Rhodes University for their support.
"A humble request to keep them all in your prayers," he said in a statement today.
The two students, together with one of their friends, rented a boat early Saturday morning at Settlers Dam, 12km from Grahamstown, in the Thomas Baines Nature Reserve. They encountered difficulties in strong winds and the canoe capsized.
Their friend managed to swim ashore and made his way to a neighbouring farm, where he raised the alarm. Police spokesman Captain John Fobian said the police had opened an inquest docket following the death of the two students. Fobian said both the students who drowned were from Zambia, while survivor Mohamed Gaffoor was from Pietermaritzburg.
Police said the boat capsized around 10am on Saturday. Fobian said the search was called off at 7pm.
"The first body was found at 2pm on Sunday and the other one at 4pm," he said. Fobian said Gaffoor had been experiencing near-drowning symptoms when he had managed to get help. He said the bodies were taken to the Grahamstown mortuary where the post-mortem was conducted.
Rhodes University's acting vice-chancellor Dr Sizwe Mabizela issued a statement earlier this morning, 28 July, regarding the incident.
Mabizela expressed sincere appreciation to the South African Police Service, their dog unit and their diving team for the professional manner in which they carried out the search for the two students.
He also acknowledged the support provided to Gaffoor by the Macleod family, whose farm is adjacent to the reserve.
"On behalf of Rhodes University, I extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of the deceased," he said.
The two men were buried on Sunday 27 July in Port Elizabeth.
The families of the two students flew down on Saturday and attended the burial, according to Adam.
