Netwerk24 reports that a lecturer at North-West University was killed this past weekend in a freak accident.  

In the early hours of Saturday, Rudi van de Venter, a lecturer in the faculty of education, fell into a trench that had recently been dug for repair work at the university’s Potchefstroom campus.  He had been walking to his office on the campus at about 01:30 when he apparently fell into the trench.  A security guard noticed Van de Venter’s body at about 06:20.  According to information which was not confirmed by the police, Van de Venter fell into the trench head first.  NWU spokesperson Louis Jacobs said leaks in water pipes were being repaired at various places on the campus and safety nets had been put up.  He expressed the university’s grief at the tragic accident.  The police are investigating the circumstances.

• Read the full original of the above report by Jana Marx in Afrikaans at Netwerk24 (paywall access only)

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