UCT community to protest murder of student Dominic Giddy

Traffic alert: 22 February march will proceed down Woolsack Drive to Main Road in Rondebosch at approximately 14h00

University of Cape Town Vice-Chancellor Dr Max Price invites concerned members of the Southern Suburbs to join UCT staff and students in a march from Jameson Hall at 13h50 on Monday, 22 February 2010, to protest the murder of UCT student Dominic Giddy (21) in Observatory on 13 February (see report).

The march will follow a memorial assembly at 13h00 in front of Jameson Hall. The assembly will be addressed by Dr Price, Student Representative Council President Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh and a representative of the Giddy family, among others.

Giddy is the second UCT student to die violently in the past five months and the third member of the UCT community to have been murdered during the past three years. First-year medical student Benny Pakiso Moqobane (19) was shot dead near his digs in Observatory in September 2009. His killers were never apprehended. Commercial law professor Mike Larkin was murdered in Rondebosch in November 2007 while walking home in broad daylight. Science education professor Kevin Rochford was shot in his driveway in Little Mowbray in April 2008.

Dr Price said: "It is my intention to lead university staff and students in a protest to show our concern and anger at the senseless attack and killing of yet another person. We invite members of the community to join us in the march as well as in a placard demonstration on the sidewalks of Main Road in Rondebosch and neighbouring communities." 

Giddy, a third-year BSocSc student, was stabbed to death near his Glenres digs. He registered at UCT in 2008 for a BSC in mechanical engineering, but changed his degree at the start of this year, registering for a bachelor of social science degree.

Participants are invited to bring flowers for the memorial service and to make their own placards to carry in the march and display on Main Road.

Rain is forecast for Monday and participants are encouraged to dress appropriately.

Agenda

12h30  Students and staff begin to assemble on the Jameson Plaza
12h50 Memorial service begins with a moment of silence led by Dr Price
13h45 Memorial service closes and instructions are given who want to participate in the march

13h50 March begins

March route

At 13h50 the march will follow a route from the Jammie Plaza at UCT Upper Campus, down the stairs, through the tunnel under the M3 and then turn left into Cross Campus Road. At the intersection with Woolsack Drive, the march will turn right and proceed down Woolsack Drive to the Main Road. At the bottom of Woolsack Drive the marchers will be asked to disperse both left and right along the Main Road to hold a placard demonstration.

Statement issued by UCT Communication and Marketing Department, February 21 2010

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