“I will always feel responsible for my mothers’ death…”

The University of Johannesburg honoured the late stampede victim Gloria Sekwena, at an official opening of a Bunting road campus gate, on 03 April.

“We gather two years later in hope, honouring the life lived in service by Gloria Sekwena as a nurse and to reflect on the meaning of her life,” said the University of Johannesburg Vice Chancellor Prof Ihron Rensburg.

The ceremony took place just next to where Sekwena died, when prospective students forced the gate open and rushed to get academic spaces at the university which resulted in a stampede and the death of Gloria. She was trying to apply for her son Kgositsile Sekwena to study medicine at the institution.

“I hope this initiative will save somebody else the pain that I went through by helping other people realise the importance of applying early and encouraging the country to establish more universities,” said Kgositsile.

Mosimanegape Sekwena, the younger brother, said the gate will stand as a reminder of her mothers death.

“I will always feel responsible for my mothers’ death but therapy has taught me that there is no way I could have controlled this,” Kgositsile said.

Kgositsile pursued his education at the university but he left mid-year because he needed space to breathe and a change of scenery to ensure that what happened does not cripple his growth. Now, he is studying psychology at Midrand Graduate Institute.

“What the university has done helps because it is a big honour for the family, it is a remembrance of her great life and reminds people of what happened here and why we need more universities,” said Joseph Sekwena, the husband of the late Gloria Sekwena.

Sekwena’s friends and family were in attendance and appreciated the naming the gate after Sekwena, as an honour and a sign of hope for a better tomorrow.

“Today is a moment of hope; we don’t want to remember the past. This should be a message to people to always apply on time,” said Angeline Qala a family member.

In 2012 an emotional family member said they received a frantic call from a “confused” Kgositsile, who screamed: “My mum is unconscious. I need help. Please come.”

Kgositsile watched helplessly as his mother died in his arms. The stampede also seriously injured 22 people.

Details: University of Johannesburg Media Relations Coordinator Herman Esterhuizen 011 559-6653.