The mother of a Rhodes University student who was murdered while hitchhiking to graduation in 2012 hands over a R90000 scholarship in memory of her daughter tomorrow.
Lelona’s mom, Bongeka Fufu, is still struggling to come to terms with the slaying of her child by taxi driver Mxolisi Kitsana, 29, but she is happy that the university established the Lelona Fufu scholarship. A teacher herself, Bongeka is pleased the bursary will fund further studies for Thobeka Shibe, who graduates this week with majors in zoology, maths and statistics.
“We feel honoured that a scholarship has been set up in Lelona’s memory. It will be the first time ever that Rhodes has given this honour to a student,” said Fufu, who lives in Motherwell in Nelson Mandela Bay.
Fufu said a university official who visited her at home at the weekend said scholarships were usually named after “old men” like Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. “They normally honour icons of the world. We are proud Lelona was given this honour. It brings a little relief to our pain.”
The 23-year-old student went missing three years ago after thumbing a ride with a stranger from Motherwell to Grahamstown for her graduation that evening. Her body was found with stab wounds in the neck and chest the next day on the Addo road near the old Coega Hotel. Kitsana was later arrested and jailed for two life sentences.
Fufu said: “It is good the scholarship is going to someone who really needs and deserves it.
“I’m sad my daughter is gone, but happy she won’t be forgotten. Her memory will live on forever.”
Shibe will use the bursary to fund her honours studies this year.
The award will be watched with pride by her mother Cynthia, a domestic worker in KwaZulu-Natal who will ride the bus to Grahamstown for the graduation.
“I’m sure my mother will start crying when I am given the scholarship,” Shibe said. “I also come from a poor background, like Lelona.
“I really don’t want to let anybody down.”
Her mother, who earns less than the minimum wage, had made a lot of sacrifices for her but the family never went hungry and this inspired her to reach for the stars.
“She always made a plan. If I am half the woman she is I’ll be happy.
“She’s incredible.”
Before 2009, Shibe worked in a spaza shop for a year after matric. Seeing a person get shot in front of her changed her life and she decided to apply for funding to study at Rhodes. — davidm@dispatch.co.za
Rhodes honours slain student
Lelona’s mom, Bongeka Fufu, is still struggling to come to terms with the slaying of her child by taxi driver Mxolisi Kitsana, 29, but she is happy that the university established the Lelona Fufu scholarship. A teacher herself, Bongeka is pleased the bursary will fund further studies for Thobeka Shibe, who graduates this week with majors in zoology, maths and statistics.
“We feel honoured that a scholarship has been set up in Lelona’s memory. It will be the first time ever that Rhodes has given this honour to a student,” said Fufu, who lives in Motherwell in Nelson Mandela Bay.
Fufu said a university official who visited her at home at the weekend said scholarships were usually named after “old men” like Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. “They normally honour icons of the world. We are proud Lelona was given this honour. It brings a little relief to our pain.”
The 23-year-old student went missing three years ago after thumbing a ride with a stranger from Motherwell to Grahamstown for her graduation that evening. Her body was found with stab wounds in the neck and chest the next day on the Addo road near the old Coega Hotel. Kitsana was later arrested and jailed for two life sentences.
Fufu said: “It is good the scholarship is going to someone who really needs and deserves it.
“I’m sad my daughter is gone, but happy she won’t be forgotten. Her memory will live on forever.”
Shibe will use the bursary to fund her honours studies this year.
The award will be watched with pride by her mother Cynthia, a domestic worker in KwaZulu-Natal who will ride the bus to Grahamstown for the graduation.
“I’m sure my mother will start crying when I am given the scholarship,” Shibe said. “I also come from a poor background, like Lelona.
“I really don’t want to let anybody down.”
Her mother, who earns less than the minimum wage, had made a lot of sacrifices for her but the family never went hungry and this inspired her to reach for the stars.
“She always made a plan. If I am half the woman she is I’ll be happy.
“She’s incredible.”
Before 2009, Shibe worked in a spaza shop for a year after matric. Seeing a person get shot in front of her changed her life and she decided to apply for funding to study at Rhodes. — davidm@dispatch.co.za
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