The student driver of a vehicle identified in connection with the death of another Rhodes University student on Saturday 13 June reported to the Grahamstown police station later the same day, police said.
The student driver of a vehicle identified in connection with the death of another Rhodes University student on Saturday 13 June reported to the Grahamstown police station later the same day, police said.
Grahamstown police announced yesterday that they were searching for the driver of a red Suzuki sedan after a third-year student was hit by a car in New Street.
Spokesperson Captain Mali Govender said the young woman died at the scene of the incident, around 3.40am on Saturday 13 June.
"It is alleged that the 20-year-old victim was in the company of two others when a vehicle travelling at high speed overtook another and ran her over," Govender said in a statement on Saturday morning.
Police said the driver of the vehicle stopped and both the driver and passenger fled the scene.
However, later yesterday a young man accompanied by a parent reported to the Grahamstown police station, Govender said in a statement today.
“Arrangements were made with the investigating officer to meet on Monday after preparing a statement,” Govender said on Sunday 14 June. ““He has not been arrested.”
Director of Rhodes University’s student affairs division Dr Colleen Vassiliou confirmed that both the victim and the young man who presented himself at the police station were students.
“It’s a very sad tragedy,” Vassiliou told Grocott’s Mail in a telephone interview on Sunday 14 June.
“We have been in constant contact with the family of the student who died,” said Vassiliou “We have been offering our support throughout.
“We’ve also been talking to her friends in New House, the residence where she lived. The University is trying to help as much as possible in these difficult times.”
She said a statement was likely to be issued on Monday formally naming the victim.
The Rhodes University Student Counselling Centre is offering support to those affected by the incident.
Rhodes University spokesperson Catherine Deiner said she was in the company of two friends when she was knocked down by a vehicle, after leaving the library where they had been studying.
“Her family have been notified and counselling has been given to her companions,” Deiner said on Saturday.
In a statement on the SRC Facebook page, the Rhodes SRC described the incident and said, “To her family, close friends and those that knew her, find peace and comfort in the special memories we shared with her.”
Details about the funeral and transport arrangements would be announced in the course of the week, the SRC said.
In a telephone interview with Grocott’s Mail on Saturday 13 June, as social media flared with reactions to the news, SRC president Zikisa Maqubela said the mood among students was sombre.
“It’s really sad,” he said. “This is someone’s child – all that person could have been in her life… what does one say?”
He said some students were critical, saying that given the amount of activity in Grahamstown this weekend (the annual K-Day schools rugby tournament and the opening of the new Gold Rush entertainment venue at Pepper Grove mall), there should have been a stronger police presence.
Deiner and Vassiliou said Rhodes University extended its deepest condolences to the student’s parents, family and friends and her colleagues and fellow residents of New House.
“The Rhodes University Counselling Centre is on call to offer support to those affected by this tragedy,” Deiner said.
sue@grocotts.co.za
