The University of Fort Hare comes to a standstill on Wednesday as they bid farewell to Nosicelo Mtebeni at an official memorial service. The 23-year-old final-year law student was murdered and dismembered, allegedly by her boyfriend.
Her remains were put in a suitcase and left on the street in Quigney in East London. The grotesque murder has shocked the nation and again placed the disturbingly high levels of domestic violence in South Africa into sharp focus.
Mtebeni was known among her friends as “kortes” meaning shorty in English. But it was a nickname borne out of love.
Her friends speak glowingly of a supportive friend with a huge heart.
Phelo Nkohla met Mtebeni four years ago. He says their friendship quickly developed into a brother/sister type of relationship. It was then at a mutual friend where Mtebeni met Aluta Pasile.
Nkohla told SABC News that the relationship Mtebeni shared with the suspect seemed strange to him, but he gave her space.
Her friends say shortly before her death they also noticed attempts from her to rekindle the close friendship they had.
VIDEO: Night vigil held for murdered Fort Hare University student
VIDEO: A 25 year-old suspect arrested in connection with Fort Hare student’s murder:
