JUST IN - Chaos erupts after student shot dead!

CHAOS and anger erupted at the Walter Sisulu University Mthatha campus after the shooting of three students allegedly by a residence manager on Tuesday, 15 April.

According to reports, one of the three students died while two were taken to hospital.

This has led to students protesting demanding the removal of the residence manager, burning cars and pelting vehicles with stones.

The angry students are demanding justice for the shot students.

Police were deployed to monitor the situation and bring calm to the campus. Police spokeswoman Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana said Mthatha cops are at the Walter Sisulu University where a student was shot dead and another one injured on the morning of 15 April 2025 at the Mthatha campus.

"It's alleged that students mobilised themselves on the evening of Monday, 14 April, as they complained about the bad state of their residence. At about 7am on Tuesday morning, the students went to the residence manager who stays within the institution with his family to confront him about the poor state of their residence," she said.

Gantana said it's 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.

"It's 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 cops.

"Police Management are currently outside the campus trying to manage students who want to block the N2. No arrests have been made yet as the students are preventing the police from going to the crime scene as well as to get more information from witnesses," Gantana said.

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According to a student leader, the problem started when they voiced their dissatisfaction with the residence manager.

"The manager shot at the students, wounding three and killing one," he said.

He said the students got angry and started burning cars and pelting them with stones.

Eastern Cape Safety MEC Xolile Nqatha said the police are at the scene.

"The problem is a result of students who were protesting for certain issues which the report I haven't received. The students pelted the house of the residence manager, and the shooting started," he said.

Nqatha said violence is not the answer and universities are places to learn not to fight.

Educational activist Hendrick Makaneta strongly condemned the violence, calling for immediate action from authorities to ensure campus safety.

"Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the deceased, and we wish a speedy recovery to those who were injured," Makaneta said.

The incident, which reportedly resulted in one fatality and multiple injuries, has reignited concerns about security at institutions of higher education nationwide.

"The shooting at the university was a reminder that the government has failed to provide students with the safe and secure environment they deserve."

"We condemn this senseless act of violence in the strongest possible terms. The use of firearms on campus is unacceptable and has no place in our society," Makaneta added.