[Image: Wikipedia]
Walter Sisulu University’s Mthatha campus has turned into a bit of anarchy.
A person believed to be a student is dead, and three others have landed in the hospital after a residence manager allegedly went full trigger-happy on Tuesday morning, 15 April.
The chaos apparently kicked off when a group of students, in the middle of a fiery protest, allegedly torched a car near a student residence. If you thought that would be the peak of the drama, think again. The shooting only cranked the heat higher, sparking even more protests across the campus.
In response, the university is playing the “not-our-student” card. According to Walter Sisulu University’s spokesperson, Yonela Tukwayo, the version of events doing the rounds isn’t quite as simple as “students shot during protest.”
“A group of people and students forcefully entered a staff member’s on-campus residence. In this violent incident, the staff member’s wife sustained serious injuries and is currently receiving medical care in hospital. The staff member and his young children had to be rescued by the South African Police Services (SAPS). Precautionary measures have been taken to ensure the safety of other staff members who reside on campus.”
Two students also sustained minor injuries during the incident. They were taken to the hospital, treated, and have since been discharged. 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. Authorities are working to determine the identity of the deceased and the reason for their involvement in the incident.”
Who and why they died is still a mess, but what’s clear is that the shooting has set off a powder keg.
Student Representative Council leader Themba Zikhali isn’t buying the official story. Speaking to Daily Maverick, he lay into the residence manager.
“He is a very abusive person, and he abuses his power. We have residence issues like maintenance, and power appliances, and students were protesting against that,” said Zikhali.
According to Zikhali, the death hit like a freight train: “The residence manager shot the students when they were protesting against him.” He also confirmed that three students are still recovering in the hospital. And as for whether the protests are over? Not likely. Zikhali says the students will huddle up and decide how to hit back next.
Meanwhile, the social media streets are a war zone of their own – clips and pics of burning cars and security-student brawls are doing the rounds. Even the National Tertiary Education Union couldn’t believe what went down, with General Secretary Grant Abbott adding his dismay:
“It is deeply disturbing that such things can happen at a place of learning. We continue to echo our call that universities must be declared gun-free zones. It cannot be that students and staff risk their lives when they come to work and class.”
Education activist Hendrick Makaneta called the shooting a brutal wake-up call for South Africa’s already shaky higher education system.
“Universities should be safe havens for students, places where they can pursue their academic goals without fear of violence or harm. The shooting at Walter Sisulu University is a reminder that we have failed to provide our students with the safe and secure environment they deserve.”
Makaneta had more to say, pushing for both SAPS and the university to pull finger:
“The use of firearms on campus is unacceptable and has no place in our society. We demand that the South African Police Service (SAPS) take immediate action to apprehend the perpetrator and ensure that justice is served. The safety and security of our students must be a top priority… the university (must) address this incident and prevent future occurrences. The time for words is over; it’s time for action.
We demand action from the SAPS and the university to address this incident and prevent future occurrences. We will be watching closely to ensure that those responsible are held accountable and that our universities are made safer for all.”
SAPS Eastern Cape Commissioner Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana finally weighed in, confirming what everyone’s social feed had already guessed: the torched car belonged to the same residence manager at the heart of the shooting. Gantana’s statement painted a grim scene:
“His wife was hit on the head with a hard object. The family was rescued by Mthatha Public Order Policing.”
And the cherry on top? Students are now basically holding the campus hostage. According to police, they’ve been blocking efforts to secure the crime scene and gather witness statements. Gantana added:
“Police Management are currently outside the campus trying to manage students who want to block the N2.
No arrests have been made yet as the students are preventing the police from going to the crime scene as well as to get more information from witnesses.”
So, bullets, burning cars, blocked roads, and more finger-pointing than a soap opera cliffhanger. Walter Sisulu University’s campus is anything but quiet, and this story is far from done.
[Source: Daily Maverick]
