Walter Sisulu University (WSU) students at the Nelson Mandela Drive (NMD) campus in Mthatha were left traumatised after a student fell to his death from a balcony on Saturday night.
The incident that claimed the life of the 23-year-old student happened at a newly renovated residence for women.
The university confirmed on Sunday that the third-year bachelor of education in further education and training student had fallen at about 9pm from a fifth floor of the Chumani residence.
University spokesperson Yonela Tukwayo said preliminary reports from security personnel on campus indicated that the student’s death was an accident and that no other individual was involved.
“He was certified dead by Gardmed Ambulance Service, and subsequently by a department of health medical practitioner. The incident was reported to SAPS at Mthatha Central police station.
“WSU will await the SAPS investigation for a conclusive outcome to this incident,” Tukwayo said.
The university has had several students die on campus, some from attacks.
In 2014, Sandiso Mfihlo died after being stabbed in the neck; in 2017 medical student Lwando Mantshontsho was killed in his residence room. Both deaths were on the NMD campus.
In 2019, a second-year public management student was thrown to his death by fellow students on suspicion that he was a thief.
Tukwayo said the university was saddened by this latest tragic incident.
“[We] request staff and students to be mindful of their safety at all times,” Tukwayo said.
She said she could not release the name of the student.
“While the immediate family has been informed, we are not sure if all family members have been informed.”
Provincial police spokesperson Brig Tembinkosi Kinana said police were investigating.
“The circumstances [of the death] are being investigated.
“Reports says he is suspected to have fallen. Nobody saw it happen. He was found on the ground.”
A student described the scene as bloody.
Sihle Msomi, a medical student, said the student was already dead when he arrived after he had been called by a residence officer.
“When I got there, there was blood everywhere. His skull was shattered. He had bled severely. Other students gathered around too. I could not recognise his face,” he said.
This is not the first incident of this kind to have rocked the university, according to the student representative council (SRC).
SRC policy and transformation officer Mkululi Gqalindaba said another student had fallen in 2019 from the third floor of Silimela residence and died.
The residence is new and very safe. That is why we are shocked and have questions as to how he fell. The balcony has a steel barrier that reaches up to the waist of an individual
“The reports we are getting are that he [the current case] had been drinking during the day. Those who saw him, say he was drunk.
“The residence is new and very safe. That is why we are shocked and have questions as to how he fell. The balcony has a steel barrier that reaches up to the waist of an individual,” Gqalindaba said.
He said May had brought students much grief. On May 28, the Dispatch reported that a foetus had been found dumped in a Ntinga residence bathroom.
“Last week, a female student in Chumani tried to commit suicide. A week before that we buried a medicine student who had been shot outside campus.
“We are traumatised. The women did not sleep in their rooms on Saturday night.
“The one who saw him when he fell had to be taken to the hospital. She was shocked. I do not have details of whether she was released.
“The girls will need counselling. Some saw him lying on the ground. It was an accident that has left students, mostly the women in Chumani shattered,” he said.
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