The Limpopo community has bid farewell to 22-year-old Petra Mathaba Tsebe, a fourth-year medical student at the University of Limpopo whose death has left her family, fellow students and the university community devastated.
Tsebe was laid to rest at Ga-Thoka on Saturday, October 10, following her death on Sunday, October 4, 2026.
She was pursuing a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) degree through the university’s Faculty of Health Sciences and served as chairperson of the University of Limpopo African Medical Students (ULAMS).
Her death has robbed the university community of a young woman who was advancing towards a career in medicine while also serving in student leadership.
Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba attended the funeral, joining family members, friends and other mourners in paying their last respects.
BODY DISCOVERED NEAR CAMPUS
Tsebe’s body was discovered at approximately 06:00 on Sunday, October 4, along Sovenga Street, near the University of Limpopo’s perimeter fence in Mankweng.
According to police, officers conducting patrols received information about a woman lying motionless near the campus boundary and proceeded to investigate.
Upon arrival, they found her partially clothed, with her head positioned inside a trench alongside the fence.
Police reported that no visible external injuries were observed during the initial examination at the scene. A bag containing her identity document and National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) card was also found nearby.
Emergency Medical Services personnel were called and declared her dead at the scene.
Police opened an inquest docket to establish the circumstances surrounding her death. An accidental fall into the trench was mentioned as an initial possibility, but investigators had not established the exact circumstances or officially confirmed the cause of death in the reports available.
The University of Limpopo confirmed the death and appealed to the public to refrain from speculation and the circulation of unverified information.
STUDENTS REMEMBER THEIR LEADER
The tragedy prompted an outpouring of grief across the university community.
A candlelight memorial was held in Tsebe’s honour, with students wearing white medical coats gathering to remember their colleague.
Her position as ULAMS chairperson highlighted her involvement in student leadership while pursuing the demanding medical qualification.
The university extended condolences to her family, friends, classmates and colleagues as the institution continued to mourn her passing.
PREMIER JOINS MOURNERS
Premier Ramathuba’s presence at the funeral brought provincial leadership into the community’s mourning of the young medical student.
Her address was expected to form part of the tributes delivered as the family and university community said their final goodbyes.
However, the full text of the Premier’s speech could not be independently verified from the available reports. Her exact remarks have therefore not been reproduced in this article.
Police investigations into Tsebe’s death remain central to establishing what happened before her body was discovered near the university campus.
As mourners laid her to rest, the loss of the young medical student served as a painful reminder of a promising life cut short, leaving family, friends and fellow students searching for answers.
