-
Walter Sisulu University (WSU) students walk into a building at Mthatha Campus to attend an event on diversity on May 24, 2025.
The South African Union of Students (SAUS) has announced plans to write to the Justice Minister seeking clarification on the reasons behind the release of a man accused of killing Sisonke Mbolekwa, during a protest at the Walter Sisulu University in April.
The Mthatha Magistrate’s Court in the Eastern Cape granted murder accused Manelisi Mampane, who is the university’s Residence Manager, bail on Tuesday.
The ruling sparked student protests yesterday. Five students have been arrested and are expected to appear in court.
SAUS Secretary General Lukhanyo Daweti says “What was very disgusting yesterday was to then see him being granted bail by the courts. Not only being granted bail, a person who might have been an attempted murderer, but the person was arrested with unlawful firearm in his possession. So we have taken upon ourselves that, as the union we will write to the Minister of Justice to seek an understanding on the merit of the release of this man, while he has killed the student innocent student on campus. Who then later, the institution said this was not a student, while they knew very well that he was registered with the institution.”
