On 28 June, Wits staff member, Flavia Rachel Tshabalala was found dead in her flat in Soweto by the police, and according to news reports, she was allegedly stabbed to death.
Today (8 July), the University released a statement saying the young woman’s death was met with great shock by the university community, alongside her family and friends.
“Although the details surrounding Ms Tshabalala’s death remain unclear, media reports allege that she was brutally killed at the hands of her domestic partner. If this is true, Ms Tshabalala’s death is condemned in the strongest terms,” it read.
“Wits University is greatly concerned by the high levels of violence against women in our society, and has taken a firm institutional stand against sexual harassment and gender-based violence through, for example, establishing a Sexual Harassment Office. We are profoundly saddened that domestic violence has allegedly taken the life of one of our own members of staff.”
Professor Ian Jandrell, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, said Tshabalala’s death left a tremendous void and she would be fondly remembered.
“Wits University extends its sincere condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Ms Flavia Rachel Tshabalala, who died tragically on 29 June 2014,” he said. “She was a revered and much-appreciated staff member in the Wits School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, where she worked as a senior secretary.”
It was also confirmed that Tshabalala was studying towards a BA qualification at the Wits Plus Centre for Part-Time Studies.
The university organised a memorial service which was held in Senate House on 3 July.
“The huge turnout of Wits staff… powerfully reflects how highly Ms Tshabalala was regarded by her colleagues and friends at the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering where she worked as a senior secretary, as well as by colleagues from across the university… Ms Tshabalala’s tragic death requires us to renew our commitment to eradicating gender-based violence and sexual harassment in our university and its communities,” said Wits communications officer, Kanina Foss, on behalf of the university.
“We collectively mourn her loss, and urge the law enforcement authorities to speedily resolve any investigations, and to apprehend any individual/s responsible for her death.”
