UNIVEN suspend academic activities following murder of a student

UNIVEN has announced that all academic activities are suspended on Monday to allow students to attend the court proceedings following the murder of a female student.

A 20-year-old male student will appear at the Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court, Limpopo, for the brutal murder of his girlfriend at a student residence on Friday.

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According to preliminary reports, the two entered the residence together in the afternoon, appearing in good spirits. Shortly thereafter, loud noises and signs of distress were heard from the room.

Security personnel responded swiftly, forcibly entering the locked room where they found the female student fatally wounded. Two knives were found at the scene.

Immediately following the attack, the perpetrator attempted to harm himself by jumping through the second-floor window.

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The female student has been identified as Ms. Vhulondo Nevhukalanga [20] from Tshitomboni [Makovha] village. She is a first-year Bachelor of Arts in Language Practice student at the University.

The perpetrator has been identified as Sifundo Masindi, who is a second-year student in the Bachelor of Environmental Sciences.

“I have approved the request from the Student Representative Council [SRC] to suspend all academic activities on Monday, 1 September 2025,” said UNIVEN Vice-Chancellor and Principal Prof Bernard Nthambeleni.

“We acknowledge the emotional impact this incident has had on our university community and support the right of students to seek justice and show solidarity.

“This is a once-off approval and must not be misconstrued as a blanket approval for suspension of academic activities for any future or successive court appearances,” he added in a statement.

“All staff and students are urged to remain respectful and uphold the values of dignity, peace, and lawful conduct during this time.”