Public Order Police members were forced to abandon their vehicle and flee on foot. Students hurled stones at the police along the N2 road, near the university’s Nelson Mandela Drive campus in Mthatha.

The violent protest, with regard to a string of student demands, including the waiving of student debt and the provision of funding and accommodation, entered its fourth day on Monday.

WSU spokesperson Yonela Tukwayo said the Butterworth campus’ cafeteria was looted and a university bus torched.

“The situation is too tense for anyone to assess the damage at the Mthatha campus. The campus has been closed. We rely on reports from security guards,” Tukwayo told News24 on Monday evening.

In a statement, WSU said that, because of the violent protests, and with student leadership having declared an institution-wide shutdown, the academic year was under threat.

A SA police vehicle/nyala was torched in Mthatha, in the Eastern Cape today following student protests at the Walter Sisulu University. Four police officers were injured.

Protests are around finances and graduation related issues.

Video: Source, as recieved. pic.twitter.com/0TkIkTDCeH

— Athi Mtongana (@Artii_M) April 19, 2021

Algoa FM reports all Walter Sisulu campuses have been closed until further notice.

All students living in residences on campuses were instructed to leave by 4 pm on Monday.

Vice-Chancellor for WSU Professor Rushiella Songca says they have been engaging with student leadership over the last few weeks and have resolved most of their grievances with others getting urgent attention.

She says, unfortunately, despite these efforts, students and/or political formations have continued to destroy university property at their campus in Mthatha.

Prof. Songca says this has put the lives of WSU staff and students in danger.

The National Police Commissioner, General Khehla Sitole, has now called upon the Provincial Commissioner to mobilise a 72-hour activation plan to bring the culprits to book.

National Police spokesperson, Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo, says the two police officers attached to the POPS unit in Qonce (formerly King Williams Town) managed to jump to safety moments before a Nyala was set alight and burst into flames.

He says as part of the activation plan, police will mobilise critical resources and expertise to gather intelligence and evidence to find those responsible for undermining the authority of the state.

Brigadier Naidoo says affected members have been offered psychological support following the incident.

A case of malicious damage to property and assault is being investigated.

Algoa FM/Citizen