Latest news with #Mbolekwa
Eyewitness News
04-06-2025
- General
- Eyewitness News
3 students arrested after student protest at WSU's Mthatha campus
DURBAN - Three students have been arrested following yet another student protest at the Walter Sisulu University (WSU) Mthatha main campus. The students blocked the N2 highway near the campus on Wednesday morning, burning tyres and rubble. The students said they were dissatisfied with the man accused of killing student Sisonke Mbolekwa being granted bail. ALSO READ: Police deployed to WSU's Mthatha campus as students protest murder-accused residence manager being granted bail Mbolekwa was killed during a student protest over residence issues on campus back in April. Manelisi Mampane, a residence manager arrested for his murder, was granted R10,000 bail on Tuesday. The students said they wanted Mampane kept behind bars, citing safety concerns. The protest has disturbed academic programmes at the institution. Police in the province said while they acknowledge the distress caused by the case within the university, they, however, condemn lawlessness. The three students will be charged with public violence, damage to infrastructure, and damage to property.
Eyewitness News
02-05-2025
- Eyewitness News
WSU residence manager accused of muder to apply for bail
JOHANNESBURG - The Walter Sisulu University employee accused of killing a young man, Sisonke Mbolekwa, is expected to apply for bail in the Mthatha Magistrates Court. Manelisi Mampane, a residence manager at the institution's main campus in Mthatha, is charged with the murder of Mbolekwa and the attempted murder of another student. The accused made his first court appearance a week ago. Last month, the students were shot on campus during demonstrations over accommodation issues, among others. ALSO READ: WSU students want accused who shot Sisonke Mbolekwa to be denied bail During his first court appearance last month, the murder-accused Mampane indicated that he would apply for bail in the matter on Friday. When asked how much he would afford to pay if granted bail, he told the court that he could pay any amount. This is something the family of Mbolekwa found questionable. The family's spokesperson, Ncedo Kolanisi, explained: "So, if the bail is set at R900,000, it means that he can afford to pay that bail, it means he is living way above his means. This is a mere residence manager, and now it makes us very suspicious as to who is funding him." Mbolekwa was laid to rest this past weekend in his hometown of Matatiele in the Eastern Cape. Thousands of students are expected to protest outside the court, demanding justice for Sisonke.
IOL News
24-04-2025
- IOL News
Walter Sisulu University residence manager's murder case postponed amid student protests
The case of murder involving Walter Sisulu University (WSU) residence manager has been postponed to next month after the fatal shooting of student, Sisonke Mbolokwa. The murder case against a 54-year-old residence manager accused of killing Walter Sisulu University (WSU) student Sisonke Mbolekwa has been postponed to next month. The suspect, reportedly named as Manelisi Mampane, made his first appearance at the Mthatha Magistrate's Court on Tuesday afternoon. The case was postponed to May 2 for a formal bail application. Mampane indicated his intention to apply for bail. Mbolekwa was fatally shot, allegedly by Mampane, during a protest last week over deteriorating living conditions at university residences accredited by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). Three other students were injured and taken to the hospital. The students allegedly stormed the residence manager's on-campus residence, confronted him about the state of students' residences, and later set his vehicle on fire. Due to the sensitivity of the matter, the court reportedly prohibited the media from recording the proceedings, as the defence argued that the matter was domestic and should not be publicised. However, it is reported that the State did not oppose the proceedings from being recorded. Outside the court, scores of WSU students protested, calling for Mampane to be denied bail. The university descended into chaos last week as students protested over poor accommodation, including cracked walls, damaged ceilings, and broken tiles. Students allegedly stormed the on-campus residence where Mampane lived, confronting him and setting his vehicle on fire during the altercation. Meanwhile, an independent investigation led by retired Justice Chris Jafta, assisted by two advocates and an attorney, will probe the events that led to Mbolekwa's death. The inquiry will also assess whether there were lapses by students or university officials in managing the situation. In a separate legal development, the Student Representative Council (SRC) approached the Mthatha High Court to block the eviction of students. The university argued that violence, including the burning of vehicles and the destruction of property, escalated after April 15 and that evictions were necessary to prevent further unrest. Lawyers representing students countered that the violence was triggered by the shooting and that it was unclear whether students were responsible. Judge Mbulelo Jolwana refused to grant the university's eviction application, citing the need to protect students' lives. Instead, he issued an interdict preventing both evictions and further damage to university property. "Eviction must be a last resort, and students must be given the opportunity to demonstrate in a manner that maintains the integrity of the institution," Jolwana said. [email protected] IOL News
The Herald
23-04-2025
- Politics
- The Herald
Bail hearing postponed for WSU manager accused of student's murder
The EFF's Ncedo Kolanisi, speaking outside the court on behalf of Mbolekwa's family, said: 'The findings of the autopsy report were that the bullets hit the back through the torso, so it tells you that Mbolekwa was retreating when he was shot.' The incident sent shockwaves around the country, raising concerns about the use of force on university campuses and prompting calls for reform in protest management. GOOD party national youth chairperson Kaden Arguile said the situation at WSU underscores the urgent need for institutions to rethink their approach to student protests. 'A decade has passed since the #FeesMustFall movement gripped the nation, yet many institutions still lack clear, compassionate and effective protocols to protect student voices and campus safety. While private security has a role in ensuring safety, they are not law enforcement — nor should they act as such,' he said. 'Universities are not battlegrounds. They are spaces for education, critical thinking and engagement. The absence of open communication between university leadership, student representatives and security personnel is a dangerous gap that must be addressed as a matter of urgency.'
