Stellenbosch - A young Matie who was apparently trying to stop a friend from being raped, payed for it with his life. Daniel Booysen, 22, a final year student at the University of Stellenbosch, was stabbed to death in the early hours of Thursday morning in front of the Corridor, a culture and tourism centre in Kayamandi. He was a student at the department of nature conservation and entomology at the faculty of AgriSciences, and had passed most of his subjects with distinctions.
Fight
He was walking with a female friend in George Blake Street next to the Corridor in Kayamandi at about 03:00 on Thursday when they were attacked by three unknown men. According to talk on campus, the suspects tried to rape Booysen's friend. He tried to stop the attackers and was stabbed during the fight. Stellenbosch police spokesperson Captain René Matthee said a motorist who drove past apparently scared off the suspects, who then ran away. "When the witness stopped, he saw the victim lying on his back with blood running out of his neck," Matthee said. Booysen was presumably stabbed once with an unknown sharp object in his neck. He died on the scene. The friend was in a stable condition and is receiving trauma counselling. Matthee said the reason why the two students were in Kayamandi at that time was still unknown.
Proudly South African
Booysen matriculated at Kings School in Robin Hills, Johannesburg. His parents live in Australia. His mother, Gill Booysen, said in an email to News24, that he was very special to her. "He was a happy, private person. He loved Stellenbosch University and had almost completed his university degree. He was very, very special, as most people are," she said, adding that he was hoping to do his masters in Zimbabwe. "I know there are many, many people in magical Africa who have been affected by crime and I still can't quite believe it." She said he was proudly South African and chose not to move to Brisbane with them. Daniel's sister, Jenny Booysen, also a Matie, is currently staying with family in Rondebosch until her parents arrived from Australia.
Condolences
Dean of students Dr Llewellyn MacMaster conveyed his condolences to Booysen's family and friends on behalf of the university.
"As university community, we are filled with horror about such a senseless deed and can only hope that the thugs will be caught quickly. In this sad time we are thinking of the family and encourage the next of kin and friends to make use of the services of the US's Centre for Student Counselling and Development."
-Die Burger
Southern Africa
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