The Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) community and South Africans at large are mourning the tragic death of 20-year-old student Ntokozo Mayenzi Xaba, who was brutally stabbed to death on 2 February 2023. The young woman, described by friends as kind, focused, and full of promise, was allegedly killed by her boyfriend at her student residence in Ekhaya Junction, Pretoria.
Ntokozo was a third-year student at TUT and had been working hard toward building a better future for herself. Her life was cut short in a violent and deeply disturbing incident that has once again highlighted the ongoing crisis of gender-based violence in South Africa. According to reports, she was attacked inside her apartment, where she sustained multiple stab wounds. By the time help arrived, it was already too late to save her.
Concern was first raised when friends were unable to reach Ntokozo for several hours. Growing increasingly worried, one of her close friends contacted the student accommodation management to request assistance. When they gained access to her apartment, they were met with a heartbreaking scene. Ntokozo’s body was found lying in a large pool of blood, bearing several stab wounds. Paramedics were called to the scene, but she was declared dead on arrival.
News of her death spread quickly on social media, with the advocacy group Women for Change being among the first to share the tragic update. Their post sparked an outpouring of grief and anger, as thousands of South Africans expressed their condolences and frustration over yet another young woman losing her life to violence. Many users shared messages of sympathy for Ntokozo’s family and friends, while others called for stronger action against perpetrators of gender-based violence.
At the time of reporting, the exact motive behind Ntokozo’s murder had not been made public. Authorities are continuing their investigations, and the case has added to the long list of violent crimes that have shocked the nation. For many, this tragedy is not just another statistic, but a painful reminder of how unsafe women remain, even in places that are supposed to offer security, such as student residences.
Ntokozo’s death has left a deep wound in the hearts of those who knew her. Friends and fellow students remember her as a young woman who was determined, warm, and hopeful about her future. Her passing has also sparked renewed conversations on campuses and in communities about the need for better protection for students and more effective measures to prevent violence in intimate relationships.
As her loved ones prepare to lay her to rest, South Africans continue to call for justice in her case and for meaningful action to ensure that no more lives are lost in such horrific circumstances. Ntokozo Mayenzi Xaba’s story is a tragic reminder of the urgent need to confront gender-based violence and to protect the lives and dreams of young women across the country.
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