The Democratic Alliance (DA) is calling for calm after one student died and at least two others were hospitalised following a shooting at Walter Sisulu University’s Mthatha campus this morning. Today cannot be seen as an isolated event. It is the latest and most tragic outcome in a long-standing pattern of instability, poor oversight, and unchecked escalation at the institution.
This tragic shooting comes less than a month after the university shut down all campuses due to violent protests and raises serious questions about what steps, if any, were taken in the interim to address the causes of unrest and restore safety. In March, those protests escalated into violent actions, including the intimidation of non-striking students, the forced evacuation of staff and security personnel, vandalism of university property, and the suspension of academic operations across campuses.
Today’s events allege that a residence manager used live ammunition to disperse protesting students. One student is dead. Two are injured. And the institution has once again been brought to a standstill. University operations have been suspended, and tensions on campus remain high. Clearly, there is a breakdown in communication, and university management appears incapable of managing the situation.
The DA is calling for the law to take its course. But calm will not come without accountability. A complete, independent investigation must be launched without delay.
I will call on the Premier to immediately deploy an interdisciplinary team to the campus, including SAPS, Community Safety, Social Development, and other role players, to stabilise the situation and support students on the ground.
SAPS must be present to restore public order, but the Premier must ensure they act with restraint, transparency, and respect for students’ rights to avoid further escalation.
The Premier must also urgently engage with the Minister of Higher Education to facilitate a coordinated response. This includes ensuring the university’s management is held to account and that systemic issues driving the unrest are addressed at the highest level.