UCT Associate Professor Kevin Rochford Murdered

Dear colleagues

It is with deep sadness that I inform you of the death of UCT's Associate Professor Kevin Rochford.

Professor Rochford died last night in what appears to be an attempted hijacking in front of his home in Mowbray.

I know the UCT community will be deeply saddened by his passing and horrified at the manner in which it occurred.

Professor Rochford was an Associate Professor of Science Education in the Humanities Faculty. He graduated with a BSc from Melbourne University; then gained a BEd with distinction, an MEd with distinction, and a PhD, all from the University of Cape Town.

He has contributed significantly to the academic enterprise over more than 30 years and has made his mark in many other leading activities, including sport at UCT, and particularly in running. He has the longest unbroken membership of any UCT sports club in our history and initiated non-racial long distance running events in 1974.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Njabulo S Ndebele is currently travelling with Dr Max Price (Vice-Chancellor Designate) and has been informed of the tragic incident. He has expressed his sorrow and condolences to the family.

We will remain in touch with Prof Rochford's family and our heartfelt sympathies are expressed to all his family members, colleagues, friends and students.

Professor Martin West
Acting Vice-Chancellor and Principal

Posted 23/04/2008 by Craig Lotter