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#CoronavirusFS: Tributes pour in for student activist

───   OLEBOGENG MOTSE 06:22 Sun, 26 Jul 2020

#CoronavirusFS: Tributes pour in for student activist | News Article
Siyabulela Lufele/Photo: Facebook

Tributes are continuing to pour in for the beloved Free State student activist, Siyabulela Lufele, who succumbed to coronavirus complications earlier this week in Bloemfontein.


At the time of his death, the 28-year old Lufele was the convenor of the South African Students Congress’ (Sasco) Free State task team. Apart from a statement issued by the Progressive Youth Alliance via the African National Congress Youth League’s (ANCYL’s) official social media accounts confirming Lufele died from Covid-19 complications on 22 July, very few details around him falling ill have been revealed. Word of Lufele’s death has been met with widespread shock and messages of condolences. Sasco’s national office has expressed their condolences to Lufele’s loved ones and friends, adding “blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted”.

The Progressive Youth Alliance shares that aside from his academic pursuits, the deceased was the 4th Deputy Chaiperson of SASCO, and participated in campaigns against financial exclusions of prospective students at Motheo TVET College in Bloemfontein. “He also was a pivotal part of the 4th Regional Executive Community campaign against inadequate and highly unaffordable private student housing and accommodation in the Free State, which contributed highly to the drop out rate and poor academic performance of students in general. He was part of progressive forces which resolved to form the Free State Student Housing and Accommodation Association,” reveals the alliance. In addition to said roles, Lufele formed part of the Fees Must Fall movement which brought tertiary institutions countrywide to a standstill and prompted government to look into funding more South African students.

Sasco has announced that a memorial service honouring Lufele’s contributions will take place virtually on 27 July while the funeral service will take place in Hofmeyr in the Eastern Cape on Saturday 1 August. Sasco has indicated that Lufele’s burial will take place before all these services and has been set for Tuesday 28 July, most likely due to Covid-19 regulations. It is understood that Lufele and his partner had recently welcomed a child together.


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