A young man’s life came to an abrupt end when he was killed by knife-wielding thugs who wanted to rob him of his prized possessions. All he wished for in life was an education that would make him a better person in the future, but his long-cherished dream will never be realized as he was stabbed and killed by ruthless thugs at a notorious spot next to the bridge on his way home from studies on campus last Saturday.

Nathan Mabotja (22) or "Preacher" as he was affectionately known to his friends, was a science student at the University of Venda. He was with four other students on their way from their normal study routine on campus when he met his tragic end.

According to the Limpopo police spokesperson in the Vhembe area, Insp Nkanukeni Raedani, the incident happened at about 23:00 when Mabotja and three others were accosted by two unknown men armed with a bottle and a knife. It is alleged that the thugs demanded cash and phones from the students, but the deceased refused to hand over his cell phone. A struggle ensued and Mabotja was stabbed in the neck with a broken bottle. Raedani said the deceased ran a long distance in the direction of his residence and then collapsed. An ambulance was summoned and he was taken to the hospital, but he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The incident has sent shock waves amongst students who have to walk past the notorious spot every evening. Margareth Lebepe, a close friend who stayed with the deceased at Golgotha, said he had had a premonition of his death. "He was a deeply religious person who would preach to us every evening, but on that fateful evening he preached more than he did on other days; it was a way of saying goodbye to us," she said.

Lebepe said the death had left much uncertainty amongst the students, who wonder who will be next as they have to go to campus every evening for their studies if they are to pass their tests and write their assignments. "We are still in a state of shock and we still do not know what to do next. We have been robbed of a very good man and no one will take his place. We will miss him a lot," she said. Lebepe said Mabotja loved his books and it was not surprising that he died on the way from the library. "He was like a soldier who loved his job and he died in the line of duty. We will always remember him," she said.

The incident again put the issue of security of students off and on campus in the spotlight. Campus activities came to a standstill on Monday as students met to discuss their security and later marched to the local Thohoyandou SAPS to hand over a memorandum of their grievances.

All student formations on campus were unanimous in calling for a review of the security of students going out of campus after studies.

Terrence Kuaho, the SRC president, said the incident had shocked them. "We have had several incidents of minor robberies along this road where students were robbed of their valuables like cash and phones, but this is the first that involves the loss of a student’s life," he said. Kuaho said they would propose that transport be provided to students from late night studies to their respective residences outside campus. He said there was a need for regular patrols along the Univen main gate toThohoyandou road and also the road leading to Maungani from 17:00 to 06:00. He also encouraged students to move in groups.

Ndivhuho Muthivhi, spokesperson for the ANCYL, accused the police and campus security, who he claimed were relaxing and not doing their work. "Just last week we called these policemen to a robbery scene where an Indian businessman was being robbed at gunpoint. The place is just a stone’s throw from the police station, but it took them ages to arrive at the scene," he said. Muthivhi said the university must post guards at the Maungani road and also put regular patrols along the main road from the main gate to the Thohoyandou CBD in the evening. "We are not safe here. Something should be done as a matter of urgency before more lives are lost," he said

Insp Raedani said a murder docket had been opened and no one had been arrested so far. He made an appeal to anybody who might have information about the incident to call the nearest police station.