The Mangosuthu University of Technology has established a safety management team to look into security measures at residences, following the death 21-year-old Zolile Khumalo at MUT’s Longsdale residence in the Durban city centre on Wednesday.
23-year old Thabani Mzolo appeared briefly in court on Thursday on charges of murder and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition. He was remanded in custody.
Zolilie Khumalo was found in her off-campus residence in South beach in the early hours of Wednesday night.
After the shooting, the suspect, Khumalo’s 23 year old boyfriend, posted about it on Facebook.
Police say Mzolo then handed himself over to authorities.
MUT’s SRC has since called for better security for students living off campus. MUT spokesperson Mbali Mkhize says that it is concerning to find out how easy it can be for random people to enter onto the Campus.
“When we appoint companies where we outsource student’s residences one of the compliance that has to happen is for them to show us how our students are going to be. It has come as a shock to us to find out that it’s been so easy for people to get inside,” Mkhize says.
“We have a new Vice Chancellor and he has already hit the ground running. He is putting together different crisis communication teams which includes protection services, risk management in order to ensure that our students are safe.”
