Fort Hare students protest ahead of Boli murder accused's bail hearing

About 100 students are picketing outside the Alice Magistrate Court where a female student accused of killing University of Fort Hare (UFH) student Yonela Boli is appearing for bail application.

Inside, the accused appeared depressed sitting on the bench waiting to be called to the dock. She was wearing a skin tight black dress and had cornrows. She was carrying a tissue. She could be heard exhaling deeply. When DispatchLIVE asked how she will plead, she shrugged her shoulders while looking deeply in the floor.

A memorial service for Boli is being held at the UFH's Alice campus's gymnasium at 12pm today.

Boli, a geology Masters student, was stabbed to death at the campus residence, allegedly by his classmate girlfriend on Saturday February 8.

Among the picketers was UFH SRC premier Zenathi Mbenya who called for the institution to prioritise mental health support system for students. 12 students dies at the university in 2019 due to various causes including murder.

Four students committed suicide casting a spotlight on the institution's capacity to support students with depression and anxiety. The university, with campuses in Alice and East London, has three psychologists taking care of 17800 student population, revealed UFH spokesperson Kgotso Moabi last year.

He said one of the students who died last year was murdered, three were killed in car accidents, three died of natural causes while one drowned. Security has been beefed up at the court as students are singing and chanting struggle songs.