Mozambican student at University of Johannesburg killed at year end party

The use of private security at universities is once again in the spotlight following the death of a 21-year-old University of Johannesburg (UJ) student over the weekend.

Kelvin Baloyi was shot and killed allegedly by a security guard in the early hours of Saturday morning at The Yard‚ a privately owned student residence approved by the university.

According to fellow students‚ the security guard‚ who allegedly shot Baloyi following a confrontation at a party‚ was often spotted on campus clad in Fidelity Security uniform during school hours.

The Economic Freedom Fighters in Gauteng called for the removal of private security guards from campus.

“The private security companies and bouncers operating at UJ‚ who have been terrorising and bullying students at the university over the last two years‚ must not only be removed from the university campuses‚ but must also face the full might of the law for carrying weapons on campus‚ harassing‚ brutalising and assaulting students‚” EFF Gauteng’s Mandisa Mashego said.

The party accused the university’s vice-chancellor Ihron Rensburg of wasting university funds on private security.

Mashego said: “The vice-chancellor‚ Rensburg‚ who has been misusing university funds by paying several private security companies millions for almost two years‚ has led that university in the most reckless and irresponsible way and has continuously displayed disdain and hatred for black students.”

Fellow students have also called for another court bid to have private security removed from campus.

He is originally from Mozambique. His family is said to be in South Africa following the news of his passing.

Students living at a private residence in the CBD where a University of Johannesburg student was shot dead, say they are traumatised following the incident.

Students are walking in and out of the building on Rissik Street in the Johannesburg CBD, most shaking their heads, showing an unwillingness to speak to the media.

Wits student Relebogile Phetho, who was also friends with Baloyi, says she was with him on that fateful night.

She says she briefly left him and when she returned she found him lying on the floor.

“They said somebody was shot and I asked who? They said Kelvin and I said ‘no, I was with Kelvin just now. There’s no way this person was just shot.’”

Another student Eddie Majola says he was standing right next to Baloyi when he was shot.

Students say building management called in extra security on Friday night because of a yearend party but things allegedly got out of hand when the guards wouldn’t let students continue with their celebrations on the 14th floor.

Meanwhile, in a separate incident, the university has also confirmed two of its students were killed in a river rafting accident.

Gauteng police have launched a manhunt for the security guard who allegedly fatally wounded a University of Johannesburg (UJ) student in a student residence at the weekend.

Provincial police spokeswoman Colonel Noxolo Kweza said the guard, who was believed to have shot and killed the 21-year-old, fled the scene following the incident in the early hours of Saturday morning.

‘”The matter is under police investigation and we are currently searching for the security guard,” Kweza said.

She added that the motive of the shooting was still unknown.

The owners of The Yards at 81 Rissik Street, the Affordable Housing Company (Afhco), said they were also investigating.

Renney Plit said he regretted the killing and would be doing everything he could to get a full report on the matter.

“We threw a year-end party for the students, supplying food and cold drinks, which we do every year. No alcohol is allowed. I am told at between 1am and 2am when the security guards told the students the party was over, they attempted to get to the top floor to an entertainment area but were refused access. They pushed forward and a security guard fired a shot,” he said.

Plit said the guards at the students’ residences are unarmed so what was being investigated was why one of the guards had a gun.

The mother of the student travelled to Joburg from Mozambique on Sunday but attempts to get hold of her proved futile on Monday morning.

Meanwhile student leaders at the university have taken to Twitter to express their anger at their peer’s death.

On the official #UJFeesMustFall account, @UJFMF (UJ Fees Must Fall) broke the news of the student’s death when they tweeted: “A student at UJ has been killed by private security when he shot twice in the back. #FeesMustFall #RensburgMustFall #EndSecuritisation.”

In another post, they tweeted: “Police claim, like UJ, the bouncer who murdered a student has no link with the varsity. But students know him from DFC #EndSecuritisation.”

The #UJFeesMustFall movement also lambasted vice chancellor Ihron Rensburg, saying he should be accountable for the student’s death.

In another tweeted, @UJFMF wrote: “VCs and private security must be held to account for this murder. They have allowed this madness to persist. #RensburgisaMurderer.”

The University of Johannesburg student who was allegedly shot by a private security guard was a quiet and humble person, an acquaintance said on Monday.

The 21-year-old was shot at a private residence called The Yard while attending a party over the weekend. “I didn’t know him personally but we used to go to gym together. He was a man of few words and would talk only when spoken to,” the acquaintance, who did not wish to be named, said.

In a statement UJ management said: “The University of Johannesburg is saddened by the death of one of our students, who was fatally shot in the early hours of Saturday morning, allegedly by a security guard at a privately owned accommodation where he resided.”

“The cause of the incident is unclear at the moment. The South African Police is investigating the incident.”

The student was a first year student who was registered for BSc Computer Science and Informatics in the Faculty of Science

Police spokeswoman, Colonel Noxolo Kweza, said: “Police are looking for a man believed he can assist with investigation in the matter. The alleged incident happened at a private student accommodation during the early hours.

“Both the property where the incident took place and the guards have nothing to do with the University of Johannesburg. However, the owner is working with the police look for the suspect,” Kweza said