Durban – Students in their numbers filled the Riston Hall at Durban University of Technology (DUT) in a solemn gathering to remember 21-year-old Sphiwokuhle Madela, who took his life by jumping from a high-rise building.
Earlier this week, on Tuesday, 19 August 2025, shocked students watched in horror as a third-year Diagnostic Radiography student climbed over the guardrails at the top of a multi-storey building at the DUT Steve Biko Campus and leaped to his death.
RELATED: DUT Student Jumps To His Death From High-Rise Building At Steve Biko Campus – The Bulrushes
Days later, on Friday, 22 August 2025, the sense of loss, trauma, and sadness was still palpable in the atmosphere when students attended a memorial service for Sphiwokuhle.
Some held back tears, others joined in song.
DUT representatives, Professor Gugu Mchunu, Dr. Thandokuhle E. Khoza, Indira Sing, and other staff members also attended the memorial.
The Bulrushes spoke to some students from the Faculty of Health and Sciences in Radiology who knew the late Sphiwokuhle.
They described Sphiwokuhle as a compassionate person and someone they did not expect to end his own life.
“We have known each other for the past three years… he was someone with love for his mother, for his younger siblings,” lamented a student who only identified as Kunene.
“It’s like he will show up here smiling, wearing his Carvela shoes.
’’It really hurts me to see that he is no more today.”
Sthabiso Thabede, a classmate who was in the same residence with Sphiwokuhle, said he could not understand what led to the tragedy.
Troubled and traumatised by the loss of a close friend, Thabede said he has been undergoing counselling offered at DUT.
Another student, Nomvelo Dlamini, who could not attend the memorial, sent a letter that was read to the gathering in which Sphiwokuhle was described as a kind “brother” who “would give her his bank card to buy lunch”.
Sphiwokuhle’s grandfather, Bhekile Madela, spoke at the memorial and said his grandson was a “clever child” who “would challenge him with tough questions”.
Sphiwokuhle’s distraught mother, Khabo Madela, said she took comfort from students who said her son was a kind and compassionate person.
She also revealed that she had not seen any suicide note.
“We have heard that on social media, he has left a letter with 12 pages, but as a family, we don’t know anything about that,” Sphiwokuhle’s mother said.
“We have many stories that have been published, that he was poor, but we don’t know any of that.”
Ayanda Mkhontwana, Assistant Director of Radiography at Albert Luthuli Central Hospital and a Clinical tutor, recalled that working with Sphiwokuhle was pleasant because he “was dedicated and loved his work”.
The gathering was informed that both the DUT Chancellor Professor Nonkululeko Nyembezi and Vice Chancellor Professor Thandwa Mthembu had sent apologies as they could not attend the memorial, as they were in meetings with the Department of Education.
Given the testimonies about Sphiwokuhle’s good character, many left the memorial wondering what could have caused the affable student to end his life
Students have been encouraged to seek counselling about any issues that may be affecting them.
Sphiwokuhle will be laid to rest tomorrow, Sunday, 24 August 2025, at Ezakheni.
