Burned tyres and rocks litter the N2 outside WSU's Mthatha campus following a protest over the release of a murder suspect.
Image: Facebook
Three students from Walter Sisulu University (WSU) were arrested on Wednesday after a protest over the court-ordered release of a residence manager accused of murder.
The protest turned violent at the institution’s Mthatha main campus after news emerged residence manager Manelisi Mampane was granted a R10,000 bail by the Mthatha Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
Mampane is accused of fatally shooting student Sisonke Mbolekwa during a protest in April this year.
Videos circulating on social media showed some students throwing stones at police officers who responded to the scene.
Eastern Cape police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana confirmed the arrests and acknowledged the deep frustration in the university community following the court’s decision.
“We recognise the profound distress this case has caused within the university community,” Gantana said.
“SAPS affirms the constitutional right to peaceful protest under Section 17 but emphasises our mandate to ensure public safety, protect infrastructure, and uphold the rule of law without interfering in judicial independence.”
Gantana said the court determined Mampane’s release under standard legal procedures, and that police have no authority over judicial decisions.
She added that the murder investigation remains active, prioritised, and ongoing in collaboration with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
She condemned acts of vandalism, arson, intimidation, and road blockades during the protest.
“Such criminal conduct diverts critical resources from the investigation and undermines the pursuit of justice,” she said.
“Public order units remain deployed to facilitate peaceful dissent while safeguarding lives and property.”
She said the three students are expected to face charges of public violence, damage to infrastructure, and damage to property.
Police confiscated wheelbarrows and sponge mattresses used by protesters.
Meanwhile, education activist Hendrick Makaneta also condemned the violent nature of the protest.
“These acts are not only unlawful but dangerously irresponsible,” Makaneta said.
“They put innocent lives at risk and disrupt the daily lives and livelihoods of ordinary South Africans.”
He said while students may have legitimate concerns, violence and intimidation only serve to erode public sympathy and weaken the credibility of their demands.
“Violent protest has no place in our democracy. South Africa’s Constitution guarantees the right to protest, but it also demands that actions be peaceful, lawful, and respectful of others’ rights,” he said.
“Blocking a national route is an attack on the democratic freedoms students claim to defend.”
Makaneta also emphasised that Mampane, like any citizen, has the right to apply for bail and be treated fairly under the law. He urged student leaders to take responsibility and law enforcement to restore order within legal bounds.
IOL News has reached out to WSU spokesperson Yonela Tukwayo for comment. The story will be updated once a response is received.
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