Students report being shot with rubber bullets at Walter Sisulu University

Minister Nobuhle Nkabane visited the Walter Sisulu University on 16 April 2025, following the death of a student, Sisonke Mbolekwa, and two other students who were shot by a residence manager after students allegedly set his car alight near a student residence during a protest.

According to Nkabane, who spoke to the media at Walter Sisulu University Eastern Cape, Mthatha, Mbolekwa was receiving funds from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) and was a registered student. 

“According to our NSFAS records here with me, the last payment or disbursement of funds to the university and to the student was at the end of the year, last year. So I can affirm today that indeed he was a student,” said Nkabane.

Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, Minister of Higher Education and Training. (Photo: Gallo Images / Fani Mahuntsi)

Nkabane went to meet Mbolekwa’s family in Masakana Village in Matatiele to pass condolences to the family. 

“We came here as the government to comfort the family… As higher education we heard about this tragic incident and we made measures to come. Yesterday we were moving because this matter was sensitive… There are not enough words, we came to say sorry to the family about the death of the child,” said Nkabane.

Both the university and the Department of Higher Education and Training had previously communicated in two separate statements that a third person had lost their life, and the individual was not a registered student or staff member of the university.

University confirms Mbolekwa was a student.

Despite telling Daily Maverick that Mbolekwa was not a student and releasing a statement on 15 April 2025, the university has now changed its tune and  confirmed that Mbolekwa was a student there. 

“Sisonke was a Walter Sisulu University student registered for the degree of Bachelor of Education in 2023 and 2024. Owing to lack of funding Sisonke could not yet register for 2025, but in March 2025 he paid the required minimum initial payment with the intention to register. In the same incident, two other students, Ntando Gqetywa and Lizwa Ndzumo, sustained minor injuries, and have been discharged from hospital,” read the statement.

According to the Student Representative Council leader at the campus, Themba Zikhali, the residence manager and the students had an altercation. 

“He (residence manager) came out and then there was an altercation with students, and after that there was a shootout. He shot four shots, two at the student that passed away, and the other two students one-one. We tried to rush the three students to the hospital, the one that passed away was in a critical condition… Once we reached the hospital, not even 10 minutes ended, he passed away,” said Zikhali. 

Read more: Chaos erupts at Walter Sisulu University: One dead, three injured in campus shooting incident

Accommodation conditions

Daily Maverick previously reported that SAPS Eastern Cape Commissioner Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana released a statement acknowledging the shooting incident and confirming that the vehicle that was set alight by students belonged to the residence manager.

The statement went on to say  that “his wife was hit on the head with a hard object. The family was rescued by Mthatha Public Order Policing.

Daily Maverick spoke to a student from Walter Sisulu University who wanted to remain anonymous. 

According to the student, the conditions at the residence are extremely bad and the infrastructure is dilapidated. 

“We called for the price of this residence to be decreased from R40,000 to R38,ooo. The rooms are full of cockroaches, the walls are dirty, the wardrobe is bad, the doors are not closing, my front door is also not safe. The lamps are not working because the wires are broken. We do not have microwaves and fridges. The electricity plugs are not working. There are no curtains, we have to take measures to cover the windows,” said the student.

Chumani Residence at Walter Sisulu University has no proper doors, many windows are broken, and the Wi-Fi connection is poor. (Photo: Hoseya Jubase)

Cardboard is used to block a broken window at Chumani Residence. (Photo: Hoseya Jubase)

Another student who also wanted to remain anonymous told Daily Maverick that there was currently shooting at the university, and that there were security officials shooting rubber bullets at students in Unitra Campus, Mthatha. 

Rubber bullets were allegedly used to shoot at the students at their different Residences from the Walter Sisulu University.
(Photo: Supplied)

“We were having a meeting as students on how we are moving forward. We just saw buses of Fidelity and we just heard shots fired and there was teargas. They locked us in our residences. Another student who was sitting inside a residence was shot in the mouth, while others were shot in the head,” said the student. 

Students at Walter Sisulu University have sustained injuries after they say Fidelity officers shot at them. Female student got shot in mouth.
(Photo: Supplied)

Students at Walter Sisulu University have sustained injuries after they say Fidelity officers shot at them.
(Photo: Supplied)

Daily Maverick spoke to the secretary-general of South African Union of Students, Lukhanyo Daweti, who said the Department of Higher Education and Training must undertake a full quality assurance on the safety protocols and adherence thereto by the institution. 

“It is our understanding that no staff member or student is allowed to have a firearm on the university premises, and that is clearly communicated through signs as you enter any campus, so is this a  special provision for res managers, and what is the basis?” asked Daweti.

On Thursday afternoon the Eastern Cape Police Commissioner Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana released a statement saying "The Eastern Cape South African Police Service can confirm that a suspect has been arrested in connection with the shooting incident at Walter Sisulu University on Tuesday.

The 54 year old suspect has been arrested today, 17 April 2025 in Mthatha. He has been charged with murder and attempted murder. He is due to appear in court on 22 April 2025. While this arrest is a critical step, the investigation remains active."

Daily Maverick is waiting for comment from the university on these alleged shootings and this story will be updated as soon as we get their response. DM

This article was updated with a statement from the Eastern Cape Police Commissioner on 17 April at 17H15.