MTHATHA – Walter Sisulu University in Eastern Cape has been cleared ahead of the Easter long weekend following a deadly shooting.
This was confirmed by the university registrar at Walter Sisulu University, Lulamile Ntonzima, on Friday, just days after one of its students, Sisonke Mbolekwa, was shot dead on Tuesday.
Ntonzima says this decision is to allow the institution to restore peace, law, and order within the campus.
"A number of students have left the campus. There are a few who have remained behind, and we are also seeing a few of them walking in and out. There was no forced evacuation.
"It was a clear instruction that the university expected them to evacuate the campus residence to start to restore safety and make sure the environment is conducive to stay," he says.
According to Ntonzima, the council of the university will meet with the family of Mbolekwa to discuss funeral arrangements.
Furthermore, he says the council has also passed the decision for the university to provide counselling services to the deceased’s family.
Mbolekwa was shot dead amid heightened tensions over the unsatisfactory state of campus residences.
To date, a 54-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the shooting incident at Walter Sisulu University (WSU).
The South African Police Service (SAPS) confirmed the arrest, saying the man has been charged with murder and attempted murder.