Pixaby
Walter Sisulu University (WSU) has clarified that the person killed during violent unrest at its Mthatha campus on Tuesday was not a registered student or staff member.
This follows earlier reports — including police comment — which suggested that a student had died after a residence manager allegedly opened fire during a protest over poor living conditions.
In a statement released late on Tuesday, WSU said the protest action had erupted without warning or formal engagement from students.
University spokesperson Yonela Tukwayo said initial talks with the university’s Institutional Student Representative Council (ISRC) revealed that student leaders were also unaware of any planned protest action.
Tukwayo said the situation escalated when “a group of people and students forcefully entered a staff member's on-campus residence.”
During the incident, the staff member’s wife sustained serious head injuries and is currently being treated in hospital.
She said the staff member and his young children had to be rescued by the South African Police Service while their car was allegedly set alight by students.
She said two protestors sustained minor injuries and have since been discharged from hospital.
“Tragically, a third person lost their life during the home invasion. This individual is not a registered student nor a staff member of the University,” Tukwayo confirmed.
While the university does not specify how the tragedy occured, police spokesperson, Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana, earlier said "It is alleged that the residence manager shot two male students, one died on the scene and another one survived and he was rushed to hospital for medical care."
Tukwayo clarified that the deceased was unknown, and that "authorities are working to determine the identity of the deceased and the reason for their involvement in the incident.”
Meanwhile, WSU strongly condemned the violence, urging students to use formal channels to raise their concerns.
“The University remains committed to open and transparent engagement with students through the Institutional SRC,” the statement reads.
“We urge all students to use established internal channels to responsibly and peacefully communicate grievances and concerns.”
