One killed in South Africa university stampede

By Lisa Laventure

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - One person was killed and about 20 injured in a stampede on Tuesday by students trying to register at the University of Johannesburg, reflecting desperate demand for higher education among the poor in Africa's largest economy.

Thousands of potential applicants had lined up for days for about 800 slots at the university, most of them from poor families but who had scored high enough on national exams to be considerated for higher education.

The application process has been open for weeks but many poor students do not have Internet access and could not apply online. The crush was caused by students pushing their way into offices on the final day for applications, university officials said.

"What led to the frenzy was a desperation amongst the students because they see entrance into university as their only chance," said Ruksana Osman, a professor of education at the University of Witwatersrand.

The person killed was a mother of a potential applicant, university officials said, while emergency services official Nana Radebe said about 20 people had been injured, at least three of them seriously.

"When we opened the gates this morning, we had this unfortunate, this very sad situation, where there was simply an unbearable crush on the front entrance, or front gate," university Vice Chancellor Ihron Rensburg told a news conference.

Applicants, often with family members, have camped out by university gates for days hoping to gain entrance to one of the largest schools that allows for last-minute admissions.

Zamantungwa Kumbo, 19, and her mother, clutched the bedding they brought to campus and waited for a decision. ? Continued...

Source: http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/AFRICATopNews/~3/R_RmNYGr-oA/idAFJOE80904J20120110

hugo hugo the muppets percy harvin percy harvin best cyber monday deals best cyber monday deals