IN CONVERSATON WITH YOWERI MVELO MUSEVENI

With the recent tragic and senseless killing of a student at Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha Campus, by a Residence Manager. The student, whose identity we will protect in respect of the family, was part of an ongoing student protest on campus. Of the students who were participating, it is alleged that three students were shot at by a Residence Manager.
One lost their life, and two were severely harmed and are under critical care in hospital. The killing of a student, in a space that should be a sanctuary for learning and critical thought, is a violent betrayal of the promise of democracy and freedom in this country. This growing trend of the victimization and brutalization of students who are exercising their constitutional right to protest injustices affecting their education is a gross violation of the fundamental right to life and freedom of expression. It is unacceptable that students, in pursuit of better learning and living conditions, continue to face brutal state and university violence. This heinous act demonstrates the continued militarization of campuses in South Africa and the state’s disregard for the lives of the poor and marginalized students in South Africa.
The Institutions of higher learning have become battlegrounds where students are met with bullets instead of dialogue. We demand the immediate arrest and removal of the Residence Manager, as well as the security guards and company which was involved in this barbaric act of violence. Furthermore, we call on the university to urgently provide professional counselling and psychological support to all affected students to help them heal from the trauma of this horrific event.