Mthatha – The fatal shooting of Walter Sisulu University (WSU) Deputy Vice-Chancellor Sinethemba Mpambane appears to be a targeted assassination rather than a robbery, National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola revealed on Friday.
Mpambane was gunned down inside his car outside the university’s Enkululekweni facility in Mthatha on Thursday evening, 19 June. He had been in his position, which focused on institutional support and development, since February.
The tragic incident has sent shockwaves through the university and prompted widespread condemnation. It also comes just weeks after another devastating loss at the same institution, when final-year student Sisonke Mbolekwa was killed during a protest in April.
Masemola visited Mthatha on Friday evening to receive a briefing from senior police officials regarding the murder of Sinethemba Mpambane. Speaking to the media, Masemola said: “We have established an investigation team comprising multidisciplinary teams of CI (Crime Intelligence), organised crime [and] serious and crime to investigate the cause of this shooting and the motive behind it.”
Masemola said it was highly unlikely that the motive was robbery, given that valuables were left untouched. “It does not look like they (assailants) took anything. His laptop, cash and cellphones were found in the car. We are investigating all possible angles,” he said.
Asked about the amount of money found in Mpambane’s car, Masemola said: “We found R27 000 in cash in the car. The investigation will determine why he was carrying that amount.”
The fact that R27,000 in cash, Mpambane's laptop, and cellphone were left untouched strongly suggests that the motive was not robbery, leading investigators to believe it was a planned hit.
The university’s vice-chancellor, Professor Rushiella Songca, said Mpambane was an exceptional leader and a hard worker. “His untimely passing leaves a void that will be deeply felt. We stand together in this dark moment, as we mourn this tragic loss,” said Songca in a statement, adding that the university was “deeply shaken” by the fatal shooting.
The university council chairperson, advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, called on police to act swiftly in apprehending Mpambane’s killers. “We call upon the police to act swiftly in apprehending the perpetrators of this barbaric act. Our staff and everyone in society deserve state protection from criminals. We believe that the minister of police and the police service will take the necessary action to ensure that justice is administered without any delay,” said Ngcukaitobi.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) also weighed in on the tragedy. EFF MP Sihle Lonzi, took to social media on Thursday, 12 June stating that they were "deeply troubled by the news of the killing of a Deputy Vice Chancellor in Walter Sisulu University."
The chairman of the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education Tebogo Letsie, expressed shock and deep sadness following the fatal shooting. Letsie said such acts have no place on university campuses, which should be safe havens for learning, teaching and growth. He also noted that the university had recently experienced troubling incidents, including the shooting of a student and ongoing administrative challenges.
Minister of Higher Education and Training Dr Nobuhle Nkabane has expressed “deep sorrow and concern” over the fatal shooting of Sinethemba Mpambane. Nkabane’s spokesperson, Camagwini Mavovana, emphasised the minister’s commitment to addressing the crisis.
“She has called for urgent measures to ensure the safety of all members of the university community,” Mavovana said.
Nkabane emphasised that institutions of higher learning must remain sanctuaries for teaching, learning, and transformation.
The Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, has expressed profound grief and alarm following the fatal shooting of Sinethemba Mpambane, the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Institutional Support and Development at the Walter Sisulu University.
Nkabane, who visited the university and the family to offer condolences and investigate the circumstances of that shooting, described the recurring incidents as deeply disturbing.
“I am filled with deep sorrow and concern over the loss of Sinethemba Mpambane,” Nkabane said. “The safety and well-being of students and staff must be prioritised at all times. An academic community cannot thrive in an environment characterised by fear.”
Acting Provincial Commissioner of the Eastern Cape, Major General Thandiswa Kupiso, said SAPS has mobilised maximum resources to pursue all leads. "Public speculation must be avoided to preserve the integrity of the investigation," Kupiso stated.
Provincial police spokeswoman Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana said the South African Police Service (SAPS) has launched a murder investigation following the fatal shooting on Thursday, 19 June, at about 5.39pm.
"The incident occurred near the Nkululekweni entrance gate adjacent to the N2 highway on the WSU Mthatha campus. Police discovered the victim dead inside a stationary vehicle," she said.
Gantana said preliminary forensic analysis confirmed that the victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds while seated in the driver's seat. "The motive remains unknown. The identity of the deceased will formally be released once next-of-kin notification is complete, as per SAPS protocol. Forensic experts and detectives are actively processing the secured crime scene," said Gantana.
The incident follows a turbulent period for WSU. It made national headlines in April when a student protest turned deadly. The campus residence manager, Manelisi Mampane, 54, allegedly opened fire on students. This resulted in one student’s death, Sisonke Mbolekwa, and another injured. The suspect surrendered to police two days later and was granted bail.
Masemola said police were concerned about shooting incidents at the university. On 15 April, Bachelor of Education student Sisonke Mbolekwa was shot and killed inside the Mthatha campus, allegedly by residence manager Manelisi Mampane who was later arrested. Mampane is out on R10 000 bail.
Masemola said: “The university appears to be becoming a hotspot. We are definitely taking an interest in ensuring stability. The young people who are here at the university are here to pursue education, not to be entangled with these types of shootings. Parents will be concerned if this continues.”
Police are urging anyone with information to come forward as the investigation continues. This over the latest shooting incident. The tragic death of Sinethemba Mpambane marks a dark chapter for Walter Sisulu University, a historically significant institution in the Eastern Cape. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are under pressure to bring the perpetrators to justice and restore a sense of safety and security to the university community.
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