By Sitha Maliwa:
A veil of grief has fallen over Walter Sisulu University (WSU) following the shocking assassination of one of its highest-ranking officials. Sinethemba Mpambane, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Institutional Support and Development, was brutally gunned down outside the university’s Nkululekweni facility on the evening of Wednesday, 19 June 2025.
The ambush unfolded at approximately 6:00 PM, just metres from the university’s Nelson Mandela Drive Campus, along the busy N2 highway. Witnesses reported hearing multiple gunshots before discovering Mr. Mpambane slumped in the driver’s seat of his vehicle, fatally wounded, his life cut short in a calculated and cold-blooded attack.
Emergency responders could do nothing. He was declared dead at the scene.
News of the assassination spread rapidly, sending shockwaves through the university and the broader Mthatha community. The university’s corridors, once filled with ambition and academic energy, were replaced by stunned silence, disbelief, and mourning.
“This is a devastating and senseless act of violence,” said a visibly shaken Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, Chairperson of the WSU Council. “We have lost a brilliant mind, a compassionate leader, and a pillar of our institution.”
WSU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Rushiella Nolundi Songca, echoed the heartbreak in a public statement:
“Mr. Mpambane was more than a colleague – he was a beacon of dedication and hope for the future of this university. His death is a profound loss that will haunt us for years to come.”
Eastern Cape police have confirmed that a murder investigation is underway. At present, no arrests have been made, and the motive remains murky. Authorities are urging the public to come forward with any information that could aid the case.
The manner of the attack – targeted, close-range, and executed at a location Mpambane frequented daily – has raised concerns about premeditation. Speculation swirls, but the university has urged restraint.
“This is not the time for panic or conspiracy,” WSU stated. “It is a time for unity, remembrance, and justice.”
At just 48, Mpambane was considered one of the rising stars in South African higher education. Known for his unrelenting work ethic, strategic foresight, and ability to bring people together, he had become a cornerstone of WSU’s growth and transformation.
His portfolio encompassed everything from infrastructure development to institutional innovation – an engine driving WSU’s ambition to become a leading university on the continent.
“He was building something greater than himself,” said a colleague. “And now, that journey has been cruelly cut short.”
WSU has vowed to pursue every legal avenue to ensure justice is served. “We demand that those behind this heinous act face the full might of the law,” the university declared in its official statement.
As the university mourns, classes have been suspended temporarily at the Mthatha campus, and vigils are already being planned by students and staff. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Eastern Cape SAPS anonymously. – @NewsSA_Online
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