The alleged killer of Univen student Vhulondo Nevhukalanga (19) claims he did not intentionally kill her, insisting he had acted in self-defence.
The accused, Sifundo Masindi, a 20-year-old second-year environmental sciences student and Nevhukalanga's boyfriend, is facing charges of stabbing her to death.
The incident occurred on 29 August at Masindi's off-campus, university-accredited residence in Ngovhela.
Masindi of Miluwani appeared in the Thohoyandou Magistrate's Court on Monday, 8 December, to apply for bail. His bail application, submitted in the form of an affidavit, was postponed to Tuesday, 9 December.
In the affidavit, read by his defence, Masindi claimed he should be released on bail as he had not intended to kill Nevhukalanga. He said he had acted in self-defence after she had allegedly attempted to suffocate him. The state, however, called the investigating officer, who dismissed the defence's claims. Judgment on the bail application is set for Friday, 12 December.
Nevhukalanga, a first-year bachelor of arts in language practice student, died after being repeatedly stabbed while visiting her boyfriend. Details leading up to the incident remain unclear, but domestic violence is suspected.
Other students reported that the couple appeared happy upon entering the residence, but loud noises were heard shortly after. Security officers found Nevhukalanga fatally wounded in the room, alongside a bloodied knife. Masindi was arrested at the scene after attempting to escape by jumping from a second-floor window, sustaining injuries in the process.
The tragedy sparked outrage on campus, prompting Univen to suspend all academic activities on 1 September in solidarity with the victim and to protest against gender-based violence (GBV). The university and various organisations have condemned the act and called for an end to GBV and femicide.
Mr Itani Nengudza of the Real Man Foundation, which has been following the case, said: "Our hope is that the accused is not granted bail. He should remain in custody until the conclusion of his case."