By Mpumzi Mshweshwe
One student was killed and two others injured when a residence manager allegedly fired shots at protesting students in the early hours today at Water Sisulu University, Mthatha Campus. The two wounded students were rushed to the hospital in critical condition. The manager allegedly attempted to come out to talk with the students who came to his residence within the campus, but the protesting students, who were outside his house, allegedly chased and attacked the manager.
The residence manager, who stays within the institution with his family, was approached by the students at about 7 am. They confronted him to complain about the state of the residence and other grievances that the students had about their residences. The students were alleged to be protesting against the residence manager and the treatment that they received from the residence when the altercation between him and the protestors occurred.
Police confirmed the incident and the protests. “It is alleged that the residence manager shot two male students, one died on the scene, and another one survived and was rushed to the hospital for medical care. It is further reported that students mobilized 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.
According to some of the students, the protest followed a message the students sent out to all students at WSU Mthatha campus to announced a plan to launch a peaceful protest against what they described as “abusive behaviour” of the management.
The message, written by an anonymous grouping named “Anonymous Cabal”, read, “Dear students, we, the victims of the submissive and abusive management, are writing to inform you that a peaceful protest will be taking place due to the following unresolved issues:
“Delayed book allowances, many students, including Funza beneficiaries, have yet to receive their full book allowances. Unfair rules at certain residences (Chumani Silimela and Atlanta), overly restrictive rules, such as limited access, negatively impact students’ experience,” the message said.
In the message, the students further complained about the operation of study centres for 24 hours that contradicted these rules, exorbitant residence fees, where the cost of accommodation at Isilimela and Chumani residences was excessive considering the poor facilities, including inadequate showers.
The students also had grievances about alleged brutality by a security firm, Ka Myaluza Company, which allegedly used excessive force and mistreated students will. “We are aware that management’s mistreatment of security personnel may contribute to their behaviour. “Matanzima must fall, unprofessional and disrespectful conduct, including abuse of power to suppress students, is unacceptable.
The police were called to the students’ residences to restore law and order. In a statement, the SAPS confirmed that police were deployed outside the campus trying to manage students who wanted to block the N2 road leading into Mthatha city. No arrests have been made yet as the students are said to be preventing the police from going to the crime scene, as well as from getting more information from witnesses
The WSU Student Representative Council and School Representatives could not be reached for comment, this is still a developing story.
In a statement, WSU management said that no formal grievance or letter of demand was submitted to the University’s management.
“Initial engagements with the Institutional Student Representative Council (ISRC) have revealed that the leadership was unaware of any planned protest action by students. “At this stage, the cause of the unrest remains unclear, and investigations are underway,” said WSU management.
The University declared that the deceased student was not a registered student at Walter Sisulu University, nor was he a staff member.
People expressed their disappointment with how the WSU management communicated the issue. Facebook user Sinoxolo MaGatyeni Felele commented, “This statement is deeply disappointing and lacks the empathy this tragedy deserves.”
Another Facebook user, Philiswa Liswa Pilz, would also comment on the matter in the same vein, saying that “WSU management is saying nothing about the shooting that took place. “This is worrying. No condolences, nothing.”
WSU urged all students to use established internal channels to “responsibly and peacefully communicate grievances and concerns”.- @NewsSA_Online