The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande passes his heartfelt condolences to the Kirkland, the Lees families and the University of Stellenbosch following the untimely death of Ethan Kirkland, 19, and Leila Lees, 18.

Ethan and Leila were both first-year Bachelor of Science student at Stellenbosch University and went missing last week Friday and their bodies were found on the 24th October 2022.

According to the law enforcement report, the students’ lives ended in tragedy when their vehicle submerged in a quarry  with both the students still inside at Paul Kruger Street in Stellenbosch. Both the students were declared deceased by medical personnel on the scene. 

The Minister Nzimande is grateful to the community member who spotted their vehicle in the dam and reported it to the  law enforcement agencies. Equally, the Minister commends the swift response from the law enforcement agencies and the emergency services who retrieved the vehicle from the dam and identified the victims.

The Minister further calls upon the law enforcement agencies to further investigate circumstances that might have led to Ethan and Leila vehicle submerge in the dam.

Minister Nzimande appeals to students to be more circumspect in and off campus particularly at this time of the year when final examinations are underway and institutions preparing to close the academic year activities.

Minister Nzimande has directed Higher Health – the Department of Higher Education and Training agency responsible for the welfare of both students and staff - to work together with the Stellenbosch University to provide the necessary comfort including psychosocial services to the families, friends and lecturers of the deceased students.