WATCH | Students arrested after campus erupts in violence over murder suspect’s bail

Cape Town – Three students have been arrested following a violent protest at Walter Sisulu University’s Nelson Mandela Drive campus in Mthatha, Eastern Cape.

The protest erupted after residence manager Manelisi Mampane was granted R10,000 bail by the local magistrate’s court, SABC News reported. 

Mampane is facing charges of murder and attempted murder linked to a previous protest-related student death.

Tensions escalated as police used rubber bullets to disperse protesting students, who responded with stones and petrol bombs, the report said on Wednesday. 

Situation tense on the N2 road near Walter Sisulu University’s Nelson Mandela Drive campus in Mthatha.
Students not happy with yesterday’s court ruling to grant bail to the suspect accused of shooting and killing WSU student Sisonke Mbolekwa.#sabcnews pic.twitter.com/TggJUyxtrX

— Fundiswa Mhlekude (@MhlekudeF) June 4, 2025

Police spokesperson Nobuntu Gantana confirmed the arrests and said the students would face charges including public violence and damage to property.

[WATCH] Parents of some students at Walter Sisulu University claim their children have not vandalised any property and they are just exercising their rights. Speaking to Newzroom Afrika’s @yemavumisa, they also claim that the justice system has failed them. #Newzroom405

Watch:… pic.twitter.com/bxAoHfp3zg

— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) June 4, 2025

“We can confirm right now that three students have been arrested, and they will be charged with public violence, damage to infrastructure, damage to state property, and maybe there might be another charge that will be meted out against them.”

Authorities are working to maintain order and prevent further harm.

[DEVELOPING]
Walter Sisulu University students are protesting at the Mthatha campus today. This comes after the Mthatha Magistrate’s Court granted bail to Manelisi Mampane, a residence manager accused of murdering student Sisonke Mbolekwa during a protest in April. pic.twitter.com/0Qa0ixVgYr

— SABC News (@SABCNews) June 4, 2025