The North West University Vanderbijlpark campus held a memorial service this past Friday 23rd of August 2024 honoring and remembering six of their students who sadly lost their lives early mornings of the 18th of August 2024 in a car accident while two students were able to survive the horrific incident and are currently in hospital being treated for injuries they sustained.
Among the deceased students, Olwethu Mpilenhle Tsane Khojane, who was a second year Sports Management student, had just been instated as the NWU Students’ Representative Council (SRC) in the week before his death.
NWU extended their condolences to the family, friends and everyone affected by the incident, “It’s with a heavy heart that the North-West University community took note of the tragic news of an accident that involved eight of our students in the early hours of Sunday morning,” and “We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and we wish our other two students who are still in hospital a speedy recovery” said NWU media spokesperson, Louis Jacobs.
The Six student whose lives were cut short are:
– Sinithemba Tshabalala, 1st year student
– Kananelo Mokhele, 2nd year student
– Katlego Ramodibe, 2nd year student
– Olwethu Mpilenhle Ntsane Khojane, 2nd year student
– Simphiwe Nzimande, 1st year
– Tsepo Maboea, 1st year student
In attendance for the memorial service included various NWU personnel from different faculties to remember the lives of young minds that had potential to conquer the world, these included:
Sinethemba Tshabale (Faculty of Education), Kananelo Mokhele (Faculty of Humanities), Katlego Ramodibe (Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences), Olwethu Mpilenhle Ntsane Khojane (Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences), Simphiwe Nzimande (Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences), and Tshepo Maboea (Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences).
NWU Vaal urged anyone in need of support to reach out to Student Counselling and Development for help.

