Pixaby
The police in the Eastern Cape confirmed that a 54-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with the shooting incident at Walter Sisulu University on Tuesday.
The suspect handed himself in on Thursday in Mthatha. He has been charged with murder and attempted murder and is expected to appear in court on 22 April. Police say no further details will be released at this time to preserve the integrity of the case.
Meanwhile, tensions are escalating at Walter Sisulu University's Mthatha campus following the fatal shooting of Sisonke Mbolekwa during a student protest earlier this week. The incident, which unfolded in the early hours of Tuesday, has sparked a shutdown of campus operations and widespread condemnation from the student body.
The protest, reportedly over poor residence conditions and longstanding grievances with university management, turned deadly when shots were allegedly fired by a university residence manager. The deceased has been identified by student leaders as 24-year-old third-year student and campus activist, Mbolekwa.
Earlier confusion surrounding his student status further inflamed tensions. In a public statement, WSU claimed that while two students sustained injuries and were later discharged from hospital, the individual who was killed was neither a student nor a staff member. This assertion was strongly rejected by both the Institutional Student Representative Council (ISRC) and the Mthatha Campus SRC.
Clarifying the issue, the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, visited the Mbolekwa family on Thursday and confirmed that Sisonke was indeed a student at WSU.
Speaking during the visit, the Minister said, “This tragedy should not have occurred. No parent should have to bury their child, especially under these circumstances.”
The Director General of the Department of Higher Education and Training, Dr Nkosinathi Sishi, further confirmed that Mbolekwa had been a registered student for 2023 and 2024, and had made the minimum initial payment to register for 2025.
The Minister could not confirm whether the department would assist with funeral costs, as the family is struggling financially.
Student leaders maintain that four students were shot during the protest, not two as stated by the university. They claim that ongoing concerns about the residence manager’s conduct — including allegations of aggression and neglect — had been raised with management repeatedly, but were ignored until it was too late.
The confrontation reportedly escalated into a violent altercation at the residence manager’s on-campus home, where his wife sustained serious head injuries and was hospitalised. Police had to intervene to rescue the staff member and his children.
In the days since the incident, students have gathered in mourning and resistance. A candlelight vigil was held on Tuesday night, and the SRC has announced a campus-wide shutdown. The shutdown extends into the town of Mthatha, as students demand justice for Mbolekwa and immediate changes to campus security and residence governance.
Among their demands is the removal of KaMyaluza Security, the private company contracted by the university. Students allege that the firm has a history of violent conduct on campus, including previous incidents involving the assault of female students and intimidation tactics during protests.
KaMyaluza Security Services has issued a statement denying any involvement in the shooting.
The company claimed that the firearm used in the incident was not issued by them and referenced a 2018 illegal firearm discovered on campus, which they allege was never handed over to police.
They further alleged irregularities in the university’s tender process and said they were being targeted for questioning these processes.
As investigations continue and tensions simmer, students have vowed to sustain the shutdown until their voices are heard and their demands are met.
