A 26-year-old hospitality student, Xolile Dlamini, has died following a shooting incident allegedly involving police officers near the KSD TVET College’s Mapuzi Campus in the Eastern Cape. The event has triggered student protests and allegations of foul play.
Dlamini succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday at the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital. The shooting occurred earlier in the week at a private student accommodation in Mapuzi village, near Coffee Bay.
According to reports, police officers barged into the residence looking for suspects connected to a robbery. However, the situation escalated, leading to an exchange of gunfire.
Students present at the scene have strongly contested the police’s version of events. They allege foul play, stating that one of the officers involved was off-duty and intentionally targeted individuals. The students also claim a service firearm was used in the shooting.
The incident has sparked significant unrest in the area. Throughout the week, students have gathered in protest, marching to the nearby Coffee Bay Police Station to demand accountability from the officers involved.
In the wake of the shooting, one student who was apprehended at the scene remains in police custody. Fellow students are disputing the arrest, arguing that the charges laid against him are inappropriate and incorrect.
As the community mourns the loss of Xolile Dlamini, students have gathered in solidarity, calling for a full investigation into the circumstances that led to his death. The South African Police Service has yet to release an official statement regarding the allegations.