Tributes paid to Rhodes student, who died in blaze

Grief-stricken Rhodes University students today gathered outside the communal house where a law graduate burned to death early yesterday morning.

Flowers and tributes to the unnamed 22-year-old student were placed outside the locked gates of the scarred  house.

Tearful students at the impromptu memorial outside the Milner Street digs linked hands and prayed.

The student, from Durban, was described in one written tribute pinned to the fence as "a wonderful, hardworking and honest person".

"We remember your passion for sport, law, friends and life."

Neighbours said  the heavily burglar barred student digs was well-kempt and the people who lived there were well-behaved

The body of the student is expected to be identified this afternoon by grieving family who flew into Grahamstown and from overseas.

The fire in the well maintained digs began suddenly during the wee hours of yesterday morning when five students were already asleep. Four students in the house managed to escape.

Police spokeswoman Captain Mali Govender said this morning that  a formal identification had not take place.

"It is at the request of the family that no name be released and with respect to their wish, the name of the victim will be withheld. "

She said police forensic had visited the house yesterday from Port Elizabeth and that an inquest docket had been opened.

The student was found in the burnt out bedroom of the digs that he stayed in.

Rhodes University spokeswoman Catherine Deiner said specialised counselling had been given to traumatised  students who survived the blaze, family and friends.