Stellenbosch campus shaken by senseless murder of student

Suspects appear in court amid fears over safety of community.

Students at the University of Stellenbosch are filled with fear after the hijacking and murder of 21-year-old University of Stellenbosch student, Hannah Cornelius.

Wed, 31 May at 13:00, @MetanoiaRes will host a #StateOfCampus meeting following recent reports and incidents of crime in and around campus

— Kamva Somdyala (@kamva_somdyala) May 29, 2017

This as two suspects have appeared in the Stellenbosch Magistrate’s Court for her hijacking and death, and the hijacking and attempted murder of her male friend.

Police arrested three suspects but only two appeared, while the third will be charged and brought before court this morning.

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The police are still looking for a fourth suspect.

The two men charged with murder, kidnapping and robbery with aggravating circumstances are Vernon Junald Witbooi and Geraldo Parsens.

Magistrate Gregory Jacobs postponed the case to July 28 for further investigation.

Cornelius was killed after she and her friend were hijacked in Bird Street, Stellenbosch, on Friday. Her body was found on Saturday morning in Knorhoek Road near a farm in Stellenbosch.

RIP #HannahCornelius, darling girl 😢❤️ Yet another senseless loss of a woman’s life perpetrated by the hands of men. #MenAreTrash

— Clever Black (@MyProudMoments) May 28, 2017

“We, as students of Stellenbosch University and residents of this community, are horrified, disgusted and appalled,” student activist Luke Waltham said.

I am broken 💔 #HannahCornelius pic.twitter.com/4u3Z7jR5t8

— Thandi Wiltshire (@thandiwiltshire) May 28, 2017

“A massive concern that we, as young leaders, have is that there are many double standards with regards to security and police on Stellenbosch campus and around town,” Waltham said.

The deputy Minister of Police, Bongani Mkongi, on Monday extended his condolences to the family of Hannah Cornelius.

Labelling the murder “senseless and brutal”, Mkongi commended the police who have arrested three suspects in connection with the murder.

Mkongi said he was “angered by the continued and sustained attacks on innocent young women, girls and children”.

“We will leave no stone unturned to fighting against and defeat the madness and scourge against young women, girls and children.”

The deputy minister said that the ministry of police and other stakeholders in the education sector were hard at work organising and preparing for a National school and safety summit that will take place at the University of the Western Cape on 12-14 July.

Cornelius and a male friend were attacked and hijacked while sitting in their car on Friday in Bird Street in Stellenbosch.

Her friend was severely beaten and dumped in Kraaifontein where he managed to call for help. Her body was found on Saturday morning in Knorhoek Road, near a farm in Stellenbosch.