The Walter Sisulu University (WSU) has confirmed that a non-student was killed and two students sustained minor injuries during a violent protest at its Mthatha campus in the Eastern Cape on Tuesday morning.
According to a statement released by the university, the protest began unexpectedly in the early hours, reportedly over unresolved student housing issues. It is alleged that a residence manager opened fire on the group during the unrest.
“Initial engagements with the Institutional Student Representative Council revealed that student leadership was unaware of any planned protest action. At this stage, the motive behind the unrest remains unclear, and investigations are currently underway,” the university said.
Earlier reports had suggested the deceased was a student, but the university later clarified that the individual was neither a student nor a staff member. Authorities are working to confirm the person’s identity and understand their involvement in the incident.
The two injured students were treated at hospital and later discharged.
WSU further revealed that the chaos escalated when a group, believed to include students and unidentified individuals, forcefully entered the on-campus home of a university staff member. The staff member’s wife sustained serious injuries during the attack, while he and his children had to be rescued by police.
In response to the violence, which saw vehicles torched and property vandalised, the South African Police Service intervened and managed to reach a stand-down agreement with the protesters. The university has since taken precautionary steps to safeguard other campus residents.