King Dalindyebo slams ‘corrupt judgment’ amid WSU protests
King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo of the Abathembu nation has intervened following violent student protests at Walter Sisulu University.
The unrest was sparked by the Mthatha Magistrate Court’s decision to grant R10,000 bail to residence manager Manelisi Mampane, who stands accused of fatally shooting student Sisonke Mbolekwa during an April protest.
Mampane is facing charges of murder and two counts of attempted murder after allegedly injuring two other students in the same incident.
Following Tuesday's bail ruling, tensions flared again on Wednesday morning, with students taking to the streets in outrage.
Protesters blockaded the N2 highway, clashed with police, and retaliated with stones and petrol bombs. Police responded with rubber bullets and have since confirmed the arrest of four students.
“There are four students who have been arrested, and they will be charged, as I mentioned earlier, with public violence, damage to infrastructure and damage to state property,” said police spokesperson Nobuntu Gantana, speaking to SABC News.
An increase from the three that were arrested in the morning.
King Dalindyebo visited the campus amid growing allegations that the judge in Mampane’s bail hearing may have been bribed.
The monarch condemned the court’s decision and vowed to escalate the matter to the judiciary’s highest provincial authority.
“We are sick and tired of judges that are bribed and taking decisions, abnormal decisions, corrupt decisions. This time around, we will not respect that stupid court of law. I am the court of first instance on this land. I will retract or change that court case to my court. That’s what’s going to happen now,” the king declared.
Describing the court’s ruling as an injustice against his people, King Dalindyebo further stated: “It’s not a violent protest, it’s a violent judgment. Do you understand? It’s a violent judgment. It violates the people’s rights. It violates my children’s rights. I am going to the judge president, that’s my intervention.”
While calm has since been restored on campus, student and community anger remains palpable as calls grow for accountability and justice in the case of Sisonke Mbolekwa.
