Staff Reporter
The Central University of Technology (CUT) has been left reeling in shock following the sudden death of a 24-year-old student who collapsed at the institution’s Bloemfontein campus on Tuesday.
The late student, Carla Steytler, was in the second year of her radiography studies with the university.
The cause of her death has not been revealed, with the university only saying in a statement that she had “passed on unexpectedly after collapsing”.
The CUT on Wednesday described Steytler as an “active member of the university community and dedicated class representative in the Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences”.
“This is truly an unprecedented loss as the academic staff regarded Carla as a student who demonstrated ideal CUT student attributes and was actively involved in the affairs of the department by virtue of being one of the most dedicated class reps,” CUT acting vice-chancellor Professor Alfred Ngowi said.
“Our deepest condolences to Carla’s family and friends. May her soul rest in peace, as their loss is our loss too,” he added.
The university said it is providing trauma counselling to staff and students who are in need of immediate support following Steytler’s untimely death.