Two students from the Nelson Mandela University in the Eastern Cape drowned this past Saturday in the Bay of Sardinia.
The woman has been identified as Lihle Tebe from Middledrift and the man, whose body has not yet been found, is Lindoxolo Thenjani from Rustenburg. Both of the victims were at the age of 19 years old.
The two attended a Democratic Alliance Student Organisation (DASO) event that was taking place at the beach on Saturday, October 23, when at about 11:30, they went into the water to swim, the police report said.
The Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Blade Nzimande, conveyed his sadness over the drowning of the two students while swimming.
According to reports, one of the students, after encountering difficulties, managed to swim to the shore. However, she died while being treated by paramedics and the other student has yet to be found.
Nzimande advised all students to stay alert at all times, even when participating in recreational activities away from the university premises.
The Minister spoke about the importance of security and staying alert as an activity that must be shared within communities.
Security is an individual and collective responsibility which must be preserved at all times.
Nzimande added that organisers of events must play the parental and guardian role until the students are back to safety.
The Minister has since called on Higher Health, an entity of the Department of Higher Education and Training and the management of Nelson Mandela University to provide the necessary support and comfort to the affected students and their families.
He also extended his best wishes to all the divers and rescue teams in their search and rescue exercise, as they locate the other missing student.
