The case against a 54-year-old Walter Sisulu University residence manager has been postponed to the 2nd of May for a formal bail application.

He appeared before the Magistrate’s Court in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape on Tuesday.

The suspect is facing charges of murder, attempted murder and possession of an unlicensed firearm.

Students Representative Council president, Balungile Madikizela, says the incident left not only students traumatised, but the family of the deceased as well.

“I think the whole situation is traumatic for everyone. Hence, today we decided to wear black and I think it is a very touchy topic that the court would be exploring today and I think it will mean a lot to a lot of people because Sisonke was a student to live among us, we lived with him, we attended classes together and to learn that he is gone it’s very traumatic, so we understand the grief that the family is going through.”

Meanwhile, the Mthatha magistrate’s court ruled against the filming and broadcasting of the court proceedings. The court argues that the public interest cannot supersede the safety of the witnesses and victims in the case.

The case was referred to the Domestic Violence court. Higher Education Portfolio Committee member Sihle Lonzi believes the media should be granted the right to broadcast the proceedings of this case.

“We want the people of South Africa to watch this court case and see what happens because this is how the cover up starts, this is why the victims of rape loses court cases like Omotoso because there is cover up, it is hidden there is inefficiency  of the prosecutors that leads out people to lose these cases, so there must be nothing which is hidden.”