Second fatal shooting in three months raises urgent concerns over campus safety

The Walter Sisulu University (WSU) community is reeling in the wake of a deadly shooting outside the Nkululekweni gate of its Mthatha campus, where a staff member was gunned down while seated in his car.

The incident, which occurred shortly before 6pm on Thursday evening, has stunned colleagues, students, and the broader public, who are struggling to make sense of what many fear may have been a targeted attack.

A Crime Scene in Broad Daylight

Police were called to the scene after another WSU employee noticed the victim’s vehicle parked motionless near the entrance gate. Upon arrival, officers found the victim had sustained multiple gunshot wounds while seated in the driver’s seat.

Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana confirmed that forensic teams are actively processing the scene and that a full investigation is underway. The motive remains unclear, and authorities are urging the public to avoid speculation, particularly on social media, where unconfirmed theories have already begun to circulate.

“We are deploying maximum resources to investigate every possible lead,” said Eastern Cape police commissioner Major General Thandiswa Kupiso. “Our priority is justice for the victim and their family. Any premature conclusions could compromise the investigation.”

Police have declined to release the identity of the deceased, citing the need to inform the family and respect university protocols.

A University in Mourning

Though officials have not confirmed the staff member’s rank, the victim is believed to be a senior member of the academic or administrative team. This has fueled public fears that the killing may not have been random.

The WSU administration has not yet issued a formal statement but is expected to comment once the victim’s family has been officially notified.

“This is a deeply tragic moment for our university community,” said one senior academic staffer, speaking on condition of anonymity. “It’s hard to believe that something so violent could happen right on our doorstep.”

A Pattern of Violence?

This is not the first fatal shooting on WSU’s Mthatha campus in 2024. In April, another fatal gun-related incident claimed the life of a campus security staff member, prompting renewed calls for tighter safety protocols.

Tebogo Letsie, chairperson of Parliament’s higher education portfolio committee, condemned the latest attack and expressed deep concern over the frequency of such violence in academic spaces.

“Universities are supposed to be safe zones for learning and growth—not places where lives are taken so brutally,” said Letsie. “We expect the university to urgently assess its security infrastructure and safeguard both staff and students.”

Campus Safety Under the Spotlight

With two shootings in less than three months, questions are mounting about campus security measures at one of the Eastern Cape’s largest educational institutions. Some students and faculty members have taken to social media to voice frustration over inadequate surveillance and lack of visible security near entry points.

“The cameras at the main gate don’t work half the time,” one student posted on X (formerly Twitter). “How can this keep happening?”

Others, however, called for calm and patience while police work through the investigation.

Justice and Accountability

As investigators dig into possible motives and review nearby surveillance footage, the WSU community remains on edge, torn between grief and growing fear.

Police are urging anyone with information to come forward, while colleagues and students prepare to hold vigils in memory of the victim.

For a university that prides itself on nurturing tomorrow’s leaders, the events of Thursday night have cast a long and painful shadow. The coming days will be critical, not only for uncovering the truth but also for restoring a sense of safety and accountability on campus.

{Source: The Citizen}

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