The higher education department’s “higher health” has been directed to “support and comfort” the families of the two students from Orbit TVET College who drowned in a swimming pool at Country Venue Hotel in Potchefstroom.
The technical and vocational education and training (TVET) college students had been attending a strategic SRC meeting at the hotel when tragedy struck on Tuesday.
The dead students have been identified as Madgeline Manyama and KG Melamu.
Manyama was a PRO Officer at Mankwe Campus. She was also a level 3 student studying electrical infrastructure and construction.
Melamu worked as an SRC sport and recreation officer at Rustenburg Campus. He was also an office administration level 4 student.
They were both declared dead by medics at the scene hotel.
The Bulrushes has not yet established if any of them could swim.
Commenting on the tragedy on Saturday, Higher Education, Science, and Innovation Minister Dr. Blade Nzimande urged the police to swiftly investigate the circumstances which led to this tragic development.
The minister said he sent “his heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and the entire Orbit TVET College, following the drowning”.
Nzimande said he has “directed Higher Health to give the necessary support and comfort to fellow SRC members, the families and the college staff and students who have been affected by this unfortunate incident”.
He added: “I am also pleased that the college management undertook to give its full support and co-operation to the investigators to determine the exact cause of this incident”.
