UFS Students Demand Justice After Brutal Killing of Mthobisi. Image: EWN.
(The Post News)- Tensions were high at the University of the Free State (UFS) as students demanded justice after the alleged brutal murder of a student at a house party.
Reports indicate that Mthobisi Khumalo and the alleged murderer had an argument outside a house party, which intensified, leading to Khumalo being stabbed. “On 29 August 2025 we went to a house party not far from the UFS Bloemfontein campus; it was all fun until Mthobisi had an argument with Neo Monyeki just outside the house. The pitch of their voices increased, intensifying the argument,” an eyewitness recalled.
According to the eyewitness, Neo then entered the house, returned with two of his friends, and they all pinned Mthobisi down while stabbing him to death.
According to the Swati Students Association (SSA) in a statement, the accused confessed to the murder, the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court released him on R500 bail, and dismissed all charges against his two accomplices. “What kind of justice protects murderers while silencing the voices of the bereaved? At the same time, the university has engaged in a deliberate cover-up,” reads the statement. SSA said that it is unbelievable that the court has granted protection orders against Khumalo’s housemates and friends, so criminalizing the victims and protecting his murderers.
UFS Allegedly Suppresses Information About the Incident
Meanwhile, students and SSA have accused the university of attempting to suppress information about the incident. According to the SSA statement, the administration mandated that the student-run media outlet KonnectPulse remove all of its posts regarding Mthobisi’s murder and refrain from covering it in the future. “This is nothing short of silencing the truth, erasing our pain, and protecting the image of the institution over the life of a student,” the SSA said.
Bongani Sibiya, a student from the UFS, took to social media and shared a video seeking justice for Mthobisi. Sibiya said students are frustrated because the university has failed to take responsibility for the incident. Sibiya noted that students have been warned not to attend lessons with someone who is suspected of murder and want Monyeki to face disciplinary consequences. “Students also want justice to be served for Mthobisi’s family and friends,” he added. Moreover, Sibiya asserted that students want their voices to be heard—justice for Khumalo must prevail.
Meanwhile, SSA has issued a firm set of demands, citing “immediate suspension and expulsion of the confessed murderer from UFS.” The association is also calling for full transparency and accountability from the UFS regarding its handling of the case. Students say the administration has been evasive and unresponsive, and they demand clear answers on why decisions were made that appear to protect the accused rather than support the victim’s community.
About the Author
