Higher Education Minister Dr Nobuhle Nkabane has confirmed that Sisonke Mbolekwa, the victim of a fatal shooting during a protest at Walter Sisulu University’s (WSU) Mthatha campus, was indeed a registered student at the institution.
This confirmation comes after the university initially claimed Sisonke was not enrolled, sparking outrage among students and the wider community.
The controversy surrounding Sisonke’s status as a student began when WSU released a statement asserting that the deceased individual was “not a registered student nor a staff member” of the university. However, student leaders and Sisonke’s family disputed this claim, providing evidence that he was actively attending classes and submitting assignments.
The shooting occurred during a protest over poor residence conditions at WSU’s Mthatha campus, where students expressed frustration over service delivery issues, particularly the lack of water in the residences. The protest escalated into violence when students approached the residence manager’s on-campus home, pelting it with rocks. In response, the manager allegedly opened fire, killing Sisonke and injuring another student.
Authorities are currently investigating the incident, with police searching for the residence manager suspected of shooting Sisonke. The university has suspended operations on campus amid rising tensions and protests demanding justice for the slain student.
The minister has requested a comprehensive report on the incident and plans to visit the university to meet with stakeholders and ensure measures are taken to protect the academic community.
Dr Nkabane emphasised that institutions of higher learning must remain safe spaces for students, stating, “No student should ever be harmed while accessing their right to education.”
The minister’s confirmation of Sisonke’s student status has brought some clarity to the situation, but the university still faces mounting pressure to account for its actions and inactions leading up to the fatal shooting.
