WSU under fire as students suffer, staff use bucket toilets and officials face graft claims

Walter Sisulu University (WSU) and the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) faced tough scrutiny on Wednesday, 19 November 2025, when the institution appeared before the parliamentary committee on higher education to present its state of governance and administration.

MPs heard disturbing accounts of dilapidated residences, water shortages and the shocking claim that some senior officials allegedly solicited kickbacks from a security company.

Students have long raised the alarm about poor accommodation. In April 2025, student protests erupted over unsafe residences, a crisis that resulted in the tragic death of Sisonke Mbolekwa. Residence manager Manelisi Mampane is facing trial for the killing.

Read more: Students report being fired at with rubber bullets at Walter Sisulu University

Students forced to buy appliances

“Most of our students are residing in off-campus accommodation and are depending on the services of NSFAS,” said Institutional Student Representative Council (ISRC) president Mvelo Abenta.

“We experience issues of residences that are dilapidated and some under construction, but they were accredited by NSFAS and others to be in a state to accommodate students.

Abenta said on-campus student accommodation housed about 4,000 students in Ibika (Butterworth), Mthatha campus and Buffalo City Campus.

“The state of those residences is not conducive to being called residences because they (WSU) do not have a strategy to maintain them… Students are forced to buy two-burner stoves and bar fridges,” said Abenta.

ISRC Secretary General Lerato Malikane said certain parts of the campuses had no water.

‘No proper toilets for workers’

Conditions are equally unacceptable for staff. Academic and Professional Staff Association’s (Apsa) Secretary-General Siyonela Mlonyeni highlighted the reality at the Komani campus.

“It does not do justice if you say Komani is a bucket system; it is a reality of every day.” When workers needed to go to the toilet, they had to fetch water, Mlonyeni said.

“We have been crying about this… Water is a basic right, and there should not be a fight for water.”

MPs grill WSU on governance

The DA’s Delmaine Christians described WSU as a weakly governed and distressed university. She questioned the chairperson of the council, Tembeka Ngcukaitobi SC, on where the university had failed.

Ngcukaitobi said the council had inherited an institution that was chronically underfunded and chronically mismanaged. Ngcukaitobi admitted that students were living in poor conditions.

“There is no specific grant for maintenance of existing infrastructure. What that means is that we have to make very tough decisions about whether we allocate money for operations or allocate money for maintenance.

“Maintenance is critical for us because this year, the protests that we have had were protests about basic things. The residences have not been painted; the windows have not been fixed. It is a disgrace that we are accommodating our students in run-down infrastructure because the allocation system simply does not cater for that,” said Ngcukaitobi.

Meanwhile, the DA’s Karabo Khakhau criticised WSU’s management for its lack of a proper water supply after it was revealed that chief financial officer Morgan Nhitwatiwa had paid for water to be supplied; however, there were still delays.

Responding to the resolution of water issues, acting executive director in operations and ICT, Mxolisi Dube, said that the university contracted water through the Chris Hani District Municipality, and water was available. However, both ISRC and Apsa denied that there was running water.

“I am confident that there is a water supply… and there has been a consistent water supply,” said Dube.

“I am more inclined to believe students and labour than Dube and anything he says,” responded Khakhau, calling for Nguckaitobi to deal with the operations and ICT head.

Kickbacks, lucrative contracts

Committee chair Tebogo Letsie confronted Dube, Nhitwatiwa and the director of special projects in the Vice-Chancellor’s Office, Ndiyakholwa Ngqulu, over findings from a commission of inquiry into shootings at the Mthatha campus.

According to the inquiry, the trio allegedly demanded money, vehicles, and other favours from Ka Myaluza Security Services CEO Sibusiso Ngubane for the securing or retaining of contracts.

Letsie asked Dube whether he had met Ngubane outside campus facilities; Dube replied that he met him only on campus grounds.

However, Letsie again questioned whether Dube was sure he had not met Ngubane at the Intercontinental Hotel in Johannesburg.

Changing his tune, Dube said, “I did meet him at the Intercontinental and I was not alone; I was with the CFO…” We met him twice.”

Questioning Ngqulu, Lestie asked whether he knew Ngubane, and if so, how he came to know him and Ka Myaluza Security Services.

“I know them in two ways: (1) they were providing services in Mthatha, and (2) I know the person at a personal level outside Mthatha,” said Ngqulu.

Letsie asked, “Must we take it that it was a coincidence that they applied for a tender where you work in the highest office?”

“Yes, I come from that office, and they bid and got that, and I am saying it had nothing to do with me,” replied Ngqulu.

Despite shocking issues raised at the committee, MPs praised WSU for being among the top five in South Africa, featured in the prestigious Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2025 for advancing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, and the work done by the council to stabilise the institution despite a lack of funding. DM