A student was fatally shot during a protest at Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha campus.

The tragedy unfolding at Walter Sisulu University (WSU) is more than just a case of a violent protest. It is a symptom of a long-standing problem of neglect, unfulfilled commitments, disregarded voices, and the worsening conditions many students endure while pursuing their education. 

A protest about poor living conditions at a student residence quickly spiralled into chaos, as three students were shot (one killed and three who sustained minor injuries). A 54-year-old suspect has since been arrested, it is alleged that he was a residence manager at the university. Initially, the institution then rushed to control the narrative, focusing on whether the deceased was a registered student and highlighting that the protest turned violent and broke residence rules.

But we ask a much deeper question: would students have taken to the streets, would tempers have flared, would any lives have been put at risk if student accommodation were safe and truly dignified? 

Across many universities in South Africa, student accommodation is in crisis. Insufficient space, maintenance issues, unsafe buildings, and lack of proper oversight have become commonplace. Many students, particularly those from working-class backgrounds, leave home with big dreams only to arrive at residences in horrendous conditions or no accommodation at all.  

Closer to home, two related issues were covered by Wits Vuvuzela. Phenyo Selinda in his article, Wits students have nothing but their dreams as housing crisis persists, notes that at least 100 students are without accommodation, and are sleeping in libraries, bathrooms and even on the streets. Similarly, Wits Junction or Jungle? High Fees, low standards say residents by Lindelwa Khanyile, looks into maintenance issues at one of the university’s most expensive residences.

So, when these students sleep in unsafe, unhealthy, dilapidated buildings that go years without maintenance, is it actually a surprise that frustration boils over? 

If a protest can escalate into gunfire, regardless of who pulled the trigger, then there is a visible failure in how institutions protect both students and staff. A campus should be a space of learning, safety and open dialogue.  

Violence does not just happen, it grows where people are unheard, unseen and uncared for. If the conditions in the residences were decent, and students had a safe place to sleep, perhaps there would have been no protest and certainly no bloodshed. 

Higher institutions must come to a realisation that these student accommodations are not just buildings, beds and bathrooms. It is about whether students feel safe, respected and valued in the place they call home for years of their academic lives.