DEADLY STUDENT UNREST CAUGHT US BY SURPRISE – WSU

POLICE remained on high alert last night at the Walter Sisulu University (WSU) in Mthatha, Eastern Cape following a day of tensions sparked by the shooting and killing of a person during a student protest yesterday.

- LISA ISAACS, SIMON MAJADIBODU and SIYAVUYA MZANTSI

Two students were wounded when a residence manager allegedly opened fire in the direction of the group who were protesting over accommodation related issues.

The manager and his family were rescued by Mthatha Public Order Policing, according to Eastern Cape police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana.

“At about 7am on Tuesday morning, the students went to confront the residence manager, who lives on campus with his family,’ said Gantana.

It is alleged the residence manager then shot two male students; one died at the scene, and the other was taken to hospital for medical care.

“Tt is further reported that the students mobilised again, and during the unrest, the residence manager's vehicle was set alight, and his wife was struck on the head with a hard object,” Gantana said. Police were positioned outside the university grounds to manage student protests, with some demonstrators reportedly threatening to block the N2 highway.

No arrests have been made.

“The students are preventing police from entering the crime scene or obtaining more information from witnesses,” Gantana said.