THE University of Fort Hare (UFH) convocation, led by its president, Advocate Andile Mini, has unveiled several initiatives to support the family of the late UFH law student, Nosicelo Mtebeni.
Mtebeni (23), a final-year law student at UFH, was murdered and her body cut into pieces, allegedly by her boyfriend, in Quigney, East London, in August.
Her boyfriend and alleged murderer, Alutha Pasile (25), will appear again in the East London Magistrate’s Court in November on a murder charge.
The announcement of the support by the UFH convocation to the Mtebeni family came after the two parties met at the Mayfair Hotel, in Mthatha, on September 29.
“In line with the pledge we made at Nosicelo’s memorial service, we are committing an amount of R150 000 from the UFH convocation, which will be made available to assist the family.
“R50 000 of this amount will be released immediately to the family to circumvent financial challenges that the family has experienced after the funeral,” said Mini.
Mini said the rest of the money would be used to fund an unspecified business that Nosicelo’s father, Kholisile Mtebeni, planned to start soon.
The UFH convocation had further roped in the services of the Chris Hani Cooperative Development Centre and the Department of Social Development to provide training to the Mtebeni family to prepare them for their envisaged business.
Mini said they would also be meeting the UFH management, with a plan to establish a scholarship fund in honour of Nosicelo Mtebeni.
“This scholarship will particularly offer financial assistance to students from the Alfred Ndzo region, especially those from Nosicelo’s home town of Matatiele, as well as female students in general and those who want to study law at Fort Hare University,” Mini added.
The Mtebeni family has warmly welcomed the support that has been extended to them by the UFH convocation.
