Man arrested for Walter Sisulu University shooting

A 54-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the Walter Sisulu University (WSU) shooting incident that left one dead and two injured on Tuesday.

The suspect, who was arrested on Thursday, has been charged with murder and attempted murder and is expected to appear in court on 22 April.

Eastern Cape police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana said while the arrest was a critical step in the case, investigations are still ongoing.

“No further details will be released at this time to preserve the integrity of the case. Updates will be provided as appropriate,” Gantana said.

While the identity of the man hasn’t been disclosed, students who were protesting when the incident happened alleged that the residence manager had opened fire.

Student protest and shooting

The students were reportedly protesting the appalling state of their residence at the Mthatha campus on Monday evening.

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On Tuesday morning, they went to the residence manager to confront him about their living conditions and allegedly torched his car in the process.

“It is alleged that the residence manager shot two male students; one died on the scene, and another one survived and was rushed to hospital for medical care,” Gantana said.

“It is further reported that students mobilised, and in the process, the residence manager’s car was set alight, and his wife was hit on the head with a hard object. The family was rescued by Mthatha Public Order Policing.”

WSU denies deceased was a student

However, the university denied claims that the deceased, Sisonke Mbolekwa, was a registered student.

Director of special projects in the WSU Vice-Chancellor’s office, Ndiyakholwa Ngqulu, said there was no record of the person who was killed on the university’s database, despite some students insisting he was a registered student.

“Each year, people register to be students at the university. Some graduate, some leave, and some come back,” Ngqulu said.

“In our database, the name we have received and the details of the alleged person who has died is not a student,” he added.

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Minister confirms deceased was a student

However, Higher Education and Training Minister Nobuhle Nkabane confirmed that Mbolekwa was indeed a student.

“After noticing there are contradicting views around the matter, I tasked the [director-general] to verify. According to our [National Student Financial Aid Scheme] records that I have here with me, the last payment or disbursement of funds to the university and to the student was at the end of the year last year. So, I can affirm today that indeed he was a student,” she said during a visit to the university.

Nkabane visited Mbolekwa’s family in Tshepisong Village, Matatiele on Thursday, to personally convey her condolences to his family.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the minister said she was heartbroken by this tragic loss and that no parent should have to bury their child under such circumstances.

Nkabane also visited the two injured students at Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital on Wednesday.

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