WINDHOEK – A Namibian student studying at the University of Pretoria in South Africa committed suicide on Monday morning by allegedly jumping from a high-rise building on campus. The Namibian High Commission in Pretoria said it heard about the incident but could not give further details as it had not been informed formally and therefore had little information on the alleged suicide.
The student, Teemus Kauluma, allegedly jumped from the university’s humanities building around 09h00 on Monday – in a suspected case of suicide. It is still unknown why Kauluma decided to take his own life. Some of his friends on the Facebook social network, who were still in disbelief after his death, described him as a fun, joyful, passionate and inspiring friend. A Namibian student studying at the University of Pretoria whom New Era spoke to yesterday afternoon confirmed the incident. “I do not have much detail about what happened but we are going to the site where it happened to go and light candles in his honour,” said the student.
Information on the deceased presented on social networks suggests that Kauluma hails from Windhoek and matriculated at Delta Secondary School. Acting High Commissioner at the Namibian mission in Pretoria, Julius Shiweva, said the mission has not yet received any formal communication on the incident from the family or the university. “We heard about the incident after one of our colleagues picked it up. We are still expecting to be informed formally,” said Shiweva. Shiweva said it is difficult for the mission to follow up the incident because of the limited information at its disposal. “It is the responsibility of all Namibian students to report themselves to the mission, this goes for visitors also,” he said. “We always appeal to our students to report themselves to the mission, but most of them only do so once there is a problem. Even the students who are being funded by the government do not report themselves, we do not even know who they are.” Shiweva said the mission has a First Secretary for Education and Social Services, who can assist students should there be any problems. “By this time, even the guardians or parents were supposed to have involved the Ministry of Foreign Affairs back home for assistance or perhaps they do not find it necessary,” Shiweva said.
The next of kin of the deceased could not be reached at the time of going to Press.