A protest at Walter Sisulu University’s main campus in Mthatha turned tragic when a university employee allegedly opened fire on students.
Image: WalterSisuluUniversity/Facebook
POLICE remained on high alert Tuesday night at the Walter Sisulu University (WSU) in Mthatha, Eastern Cape following a day of tensions sparked by the shooting and killing of a man during a student protest.
Two students were wounded when a residence manager allegedly opened fire in the direction of the group who were protesting over accommodation-related issues.
The manager and his family were rescued by Mthatha Public Order Policing, according to Eastern Cape police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana.
“At about 7am on Tuesday morning, the students went to confront the residence manager, who lives on campus with his family,” said Gantana.
It is alleged the residence manager then shot two male students; one died at the scene, and the other was taken to hospital for medical care.
“It is further reported that the students mobilised again, and during the unrest, the residence manager’s vehicle was set alight, and his wife was struck on the head with a hard object,” Gantana said.
Police were positioned outside the university grounds to manage student protests, with some demonstrators reportedly threatening to block the N2 highway.
No arrests have been made.
“The students are preventing police from entering the crime scene or obtaining more information from witnesses,” Gantana said.
In a statement, the university said authorities were working to determine the identity of the deceased and the reason for their involvement in the incident.
“WSU woke up to an unexpected and deeply troubling unrest at its Mthatha Campus. The protest erupted without prior notice, and no formal grievance or letter of demand was submitted to university management. Initial engagements with the Institutional Student Representative Council (ISRC) have revealed that the leadership was unaware of any planned protest action by students. At this stage, the cause of the unrest remains unclear, and investigations are underway.”
The institution also confirmed that the wounded have since been discharged from hospital. It said precautionary measures have been taken to ensure the safety of other staff members who reside on campus.
“WSU Management strongly condemns all forms of violence and disruption that place the lives and safety of our staff and students at risk. The University remains committed to open and transparent engagement with students through the Institutional SRC. We urge all students to use established internal channels to responsibly and peacefully communicate grievances and concerns.”
Speaking to broadcaster Newzroom Afrika, a female student, whose identity was withheld, said students had been raising concerns about the state of their residences for some time, but their complaints were ignored.
She added that students now want the manager investigated and dismissed.
“Who pulled the trigger? We want to know that person and have them removed immediately,” she said.
Their calls were echoed by the chairperson of the portfolio committee on higher education and training, Tebogo Letsie, who said: “The university must urgently investigate this breach of safety protocols, particularly the circumstances that allowed a residence manager to possess a firearm on the premises. There must be consequence management for those who failed to uphold safety standards and allowed this tragedy to occur.”
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) said the deeply troubling incident follows a similar violent situation on May 27, 2024, where WSU students were also injured during a confrontation involving law enforcement and security personnel.
“The recurrence of such incidents at institutions of higher learning is alarming and raises serious concerns about the safety and protection of students, particularly in spaces that should be centres of learning, dialogue and development.”
In response to the May 2024 incident, the Commission initiated a formal inquiry into the lawfulness of the use of force by law enforcement and private security actors during student protests.
Public hearings were conducted, during which evidence was received from affected students, university officials, SAPS, and other stakeholders.
“The Commission is currently in the process of finalising its report, which will contain the Commission’s findings, and will be released in the coming months.”
Cape Times