In the aftermath of a violent incident at Walter Sisulu University (WSU) in Mthata has drawn the attention of Higher Education and Training Minister Nobuhle Nkabane, who is advocating for an urgent review of safety protocols at South African campuses. The incident unfolded on Tuesday when a student was shot dead and two others were injured during a protest over accommodation issues. The students were marching towards the residence manager’s office when shots rang out, leaving the community in shock.
Initial claims by university authorities that the deceased, identified as 24-year-old Sisonke Mbolekwa from Matatiele, may not have been a registered student were quickly dispelled by Minister Nkabane, who confirmed that he was indeed enrolled and a recipient of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). “According to NSFAS records, the last payment to the university and the student was at the end of the year, last year. He was a student,” Nkabane said, expressing her sorrow over the tragic loss.
“As a mother, I’m broken,” she added. Although the minister had aimed to visit those injured in the incident at the hospital, she noted that the students had been discharged and voiced her intent to reach out to Mbolekwa’s family in Matatiele to pay her respects.
In response to the alarming trend of weaponising and militarising educational institutions, Nkabane pledged that her department would be taking action. “We condemn what has happened here. We have observed the militarisation of our campuses,” she stated. “As a department, we are working to review our safety protocols that are going to assist us in strengthening our safety framework as we move forward.”
Looking ahead, the minister indicated that she would be issuing a notice to the university council to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting. Upon receipt of the findings, she warned, “there will be consequence management.”
Nkabane’s visit also touched on the broader issues concerning accommodations for students, pointing to disturbing images circulating on social media that depict the appalling conditions of residences allegedly accredited by NSFAS. These images show floors with missing tiles and ceilings in disrepair, raising further questions about student safety and well-being.
Interestingly, university management claimed they had been caught off guard by the unrest, reporting that no issues had been raised by the Student Representative Council prior to the protest. Moreover, the violence left a staff member’s wife injured, currently receiving medical treatment, while the faculty member and his children required rescue from the South African Police Services (SAPS). “Precautionary measures have been taken to ensure the safety of other staff members who reside on campus,” WSU management stated.