Eastern Cape police have confirmed that three students have been arrested following a violent protest at Walter Sisulu University‘s Nelson Mandela Drive campus in Mthatha.

There have been confrontations between the police and students since the start of the protest earlier today, where rubber bullets were used to disperse the crowd, while students retaliated with stones and petrol bombs.

Police spokesperson Nobuntu Gantana says, “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.”

N2 road near WSU’s Nelson Mandela Drive campus still barricaded. Stones and tree logs used to barricade the road.
Flow of traffic severely disrupted.#sabcnews pic.twitter.com/S8B8DP9IuP

— Fundiswa Mhlekude (@MhlekudeF) June 4, 2025

VIDEO | Chaos erupts during WSU student protest:

The protests started yesterday after the local magistrate’s court granted the institution’s residence manager, Manelisi Mampane, R10 000 bail.

Mampane faces murder and attempted murder charges after the death of a student during protests.

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

Gantana says, “So, we are here as the police trying to maintain order and to keep the students away from the N2 and to also ensure that there’s no one that is harmed in the process. But what I can say is that as the police we will not tolerate lawlessness and vandalism of state property and that we will ensure that whoever that is in infringement of that will actually be brought to book.”

VIDEO |  Chaos follows shooting at WSU: