Student suicide 'was not due to lack of funds'

The Durban University of Technology has rejected suggestions that one of its students committed suicide because he had not got financial support from the National Student Aid Scheme (NSFAS).

- Sandile Motha

Sphiwokuhle Madela, 27, who was in his third year of a BHSc in radiography, jumped to his death on Tuesday morning at the university's Steve Biko campus.

According to student leader Naledi Mfeka, people who knew the student said that he had been stressed about his finances.

"Those who were close to him said he was worried that he would be forced to quit his studies because of funds. This was too hard for him to bear. He was afraid of disappointing his family.

"But we hope the investigation will be able to find out what went wrong," she said.

However, the university said in a statement that funding problems had nothing to do with Madela’s death, saying he was dealing with personal matters.