Pretoria - The official opening of the gate named after Gloria Sekwena, who lost her life during a stampede at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) in 2012, will help her family heal.
The university unveiled the gate, dedicated to her memory, in a ceremony at its Bunting Road Campus on Thursday.
Sekwena died while accompanying her son to register at the university in 2012. Tens of thousands of student hopefuls, desperate to gain a space at UJ, surged forward, crushing people against the gates.
Sekwena's uncle, Tshepiso Ramphele, who spoke on behalf of the Sekwena family, said the remembrance will help the family heal.
"This monument is the bittersweet symbol of the loss that will be with us forever. Time heals, and this monument will help is heal even more," he said.
In his closing remarks, UJ Chairperson of Council Prof Roy Marcus said: "She will teach us new values."
After the tragedy in 2012, Higher Education Minister Dr Blade Nzimande announced that they would do away with walk-ins for late applications and registrations at universities in favour of a central-applications system. - SAnews.gov.za
