Tributes pour in for WSU senior staffer Sinethemba Mpambane

Ntokozo Khumalo 20 June 2025 | 12:30 Walter Sisulu University
Murder
Department of Higher Education and Training
Walter Sisulu University. Picture: Nhlanhla Mabaso/EWN
JOHANNESBURG - Tributes are pouring in for Walter Sisulu University's senior staff member, Sinethemba Mpambane.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Institutional Support and Development was shot and killed at the entrance of the university's premises in Mthatha on Thursday.
Mpambane was found in a vehicle with multiple gunshot wounds.
In a statement, the University confirmed Mpambane's murder, describing it as a heinous act.
It has sent its condolences to the Mpambane family, his friends, and colleagues.
Walter Sisulu University Vice-Chancellor and principal Rushiella Songca says Mpambane was an excellent leader and a hard worker.
Police are investigating the fatal shooting.
READ: Higher education dept meeting with family of WSU employee killed in Mthatha
Mpambane was entering the Nkululekweni facility at around 6pm on Thursday when he was approached by an unknown gunman.
The Department of Higher Education said it's concerned that this is the second fatal incident on the campus in two months.
In April, student Sisonke Mbolekwa was shot and killed during a protest over living conditions at the institution's residence.
A residence manager has been charged with Mbolekwa's murder.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Daily Maverick

2 hours ago

• Daily Maverick

Ramaphosa commits to financial probe on irregular spending at Chieta

After first pleading ignorance, the Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority (Chieta) now welcomes an investigation it claims to have requested, as years of financial red flags culminate in a full-scale corruption probe. This is the latest state entity to fall under the microscope of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), following President Cyril Ramaphosa's authorisation of a sweeping corruption probe that could uncover millions in misappropriated public funds. Ramaphosa's proclamation grants the SIU broad powers to investigate alleged fraud, corruption and maladministration at the skills development body from 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2020. The investigation focuses on three critical areas: the suspicious allocation of discretionary grants to entities where Chieta officials may have held undisclosed financial interests; procurement irregularities in ICT and auditing services; and the quantification of losses suffered by both Chieta and the state. From ignorance to ownership When Daily Maverick first approached Chieta for comment, they responded with a terse: ' Chieta has not yet received any formal communication from the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and is therefore not in a position to comment on the matter at this stage.' However, in a media statement on Friday, 20 June, Chieta now claims it 'welcomes the recent presidential proclamation' and reveals that 'it was Chieta that requested the SIU to investigate certain officials in 2019'. This narrative shift raises uncomfortable questions about the initial claim of ignorance regarding a presidentially mandated probe published in the government gazette. 'Self-investigation' defence According to the latest statement, the organisation 'commissioned an independent forensic investigation into concerns surrounding historical procurement processes' in 2019, focusing on: Procurement of IT services dating back to 2019 Internal audit services between 2016 and 2019 Chieta claims it 'formally referred the matter to the SIU in 2019 and, in 2021, opened a criminal case involving former employees'. The organisation further states that its board 'mandated the recovery of misappropriated funds linked to these findings'. If accurate, this timeline suggests Chieta has been managing a corruption scandal for six years, while publicly celebrating clean audits and operational successes. Messy trail of clean audits This SIU investigation was not triggered by isolated incidents, but rather by a pattern of irregular expenditure that persisted even as the entity celebrated receiving 'clean audits' from the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA). This apparent contradiction — clean audits alongside substantial irregular spending — forms one of the most puzzling aspects of Chieta's financial management over recent years (click on the bars to find out how much). The 2021/22 financial year proved particularly problematic, with the AGSA noting material misstatements across multiple financial components that required correction, including irregular expenditure, discretionary grant expenditure, and related party disclosures. R30.5m smoking gun Central to the current investigation is a R30.5-million irregularity involving a former grants executive manager who allegedly contravened grant regulations through non-disclosure of interests during discretionary grant awards. This case, which spans both the 2021/22 and 2022/23 financial years, has already been referred to law enforcement with a criminal case opened — which lines up with the organisation's claim of having opened a criminal case in 2021. The SIU's mandate specifically targets such conflicts of interest, investigating 'entities in which employees or officials of Chieta may have had undisclosed or unauthorised interests' and quantifying 'any benefit so derived by such employees or officials'. Beyond grant allocation, the investigation will examine procurement of ICT and auditing services; with the latter being of particular interest because it suggests potential compromise of the very oversight mechanisms designed to ensure financial integrity. The media statement acknowledges these focus areas, specifically mentioning 'procurement of IT services dating back to 2019' and 'internal audit services between 2016 and 2019' as matters reflected in the president's probe. What this means for you Alleged corruption in Sector Education and Training Authorities (Setas) threatens critical skills training initiatives funded by public money. Mismanagement of funds undermines efforts to address skills gaps, posing risks to economic development goals outlined in the National Development Plan. Investigations into multiple Setas signal larger vulnerabilities within the R20-billion skills development ecosystem, potentially affecting access to training and bursary opportunities. Clean audits, dirty money What is most perplexing, however, is Chieta managing to secure unqualified audit opinions for 2022/23 and 2023/24, while maintaining substantial irregular expenditure balances. It continues to boast about 'clean audits, a 100% performance rating from the Auditor-General, and no incidents of fraud or irregular, fruitless, or wasteful expenditure reported since 2020' even as its own annual reports revealed persistent financial irregularities. But management is claiming a level of immunity, saying 'the investigation does not involve Chieta's current leadership or its ongoing programmes' with operations 'including the successful national rollout of Smart Skills Centres' remaining 'unaffected'. This attempt to ring-fence current operations from historical misconduct may prove optimistic, given that the SIU's mandate extends to quantifying losses and recovering misappropriated funds — processes that typically require comprehensive organisational cooperation. Seta has a cold Chieta's troubles are only one symptom of a broader syndrome. The SIU has been authorised to investigate multiple Sector Education and Training Authorities, including the Media, Information and Communication Technologies Seta, and the Safety and Security Seta, suggesting systemic vulnerabilities across the more than R20-billion ecosystem. These organisations play a crucial role in South Africa's skills development landscape, channelling hundreds of millions in public funds toward training programmes and bursaries. The funds, derived from mandatory employer contributions and National Skills Fund allocations, are meant to address critical skills gaps and support national economic development goals outlined in the National Development Plan. The alleged corruption therefore represents not just financial losses, but a direct threat to our industrial skills development capacity at a time when they are desperately needed. DM

Eyewitness News

2 hours ago

• Eyewitness News

Floyd Shivambu to start new party? Calls EFF a 'cult'. Alleges criminal activity at MKP

The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party's former secretary-general, Floyd Shivambu, was recently demoted to being a member of Parliament by leaders of the party following his trip to Malawi to visit wanted fugitive Pastor Shepherd Bushiri. The party announced Shivambu would be redeployed to Parliament; however, this has yet to materialise despite the window for changes to parliamentary lists opening on 1 June. ALSO READ: Former MK SG Shivambu to give clarity on his political future TSHIDI MADIA EXPLAINS: What's next for Floyd Shivambu? Since the announcement of his departure, Shivambu has accused the EFF of being a 'cult' and called Jacob Zuma 'gullible'. At a press briefing in Gauteng on Thursday (19 June), Shivambu made allegations about what's going wrong in the MKP, which Madia says are 'quite serious'. Shivambu claims corruption and drug abuse are common among leaders of the party. Madia believes Shivambu should be held accountable for witnessing these alleged crimes and being silent about them until now.

IOL News

4 hours ago

• IOL News

Why Pride Month is a protest for LGBTQ+ rights

Sandton Gay Pride went ahead as planned despite a terror warning by the US embassy in this file photo. South Africa is not only one of the only pro-queer African nations to date, but it is also the only country to have legalised same-sex marriage, and only the fifth in the world to have done so. Image: Timothy Bernard/African News Agency (ANA) IN South Africa, June is not only Youth Month, it is also the international Pride Month. This is a commemorative month-long observance dedicated to the celebration of LGBTQ+ pride, celebrating the contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people in local and international cultures and communities. South Africa is not only one of the only pro-queer African nations to date, but it is also the only country to have legalised same-sex marriage, and only the fifth in the world to have done so. Although, contemporary, other African nations have decriminalised same-sex relationships, South Africa is the only nation to fully legalise and enshrine the protections of queer people under our Constitutional laws. Legal progress for South Africa's LGBTQ+ community has not translated into lived safety: violence against gay and queer individuals remains rampant. The names Siphamandla Khoza, Andile 'Lulu' Nthuthela, Nathaniel 'Spokgoane' Mbele, Lonwabo 'Jack', and many others, echo loudly in discourses around South Africa's homophobia and violences against queer communities. Mere months ago, fearless advocate for queer Muslims and the world's first openly gay imam, Muhsin Hendricks, was murdered in a targeted attack near Gqeberha on February 15th. The 57-year-old cleric ran a mosque in Cape Town intended as a haven for gay and other marginalised Muslims. The car he was travelling in was ambushed as he made his way to officiate an interfaith marriage — an act symbolic of his mission to build bridges in the face of hate. Mere months before that, the remains of Lazarus Ikaneng Thomas, a 50-year-old gay man from Galeshewe in Northern Cape, were found after he was mutilated in a targeted homophobic attack. It was reported that Thomas had been strangled and had acid poured all over his body. Thomas's death was not just a horrifying murder — it was a savage and deliberate act of hatred. It reflects the cruel, barbaric violence still directed at queer bodies in a country that claims to uphold human rights. South Africa is internationally revered for having the best Constitution in the world. It is oftentimes praised for its progressive legal framework: same-sex marriage is legal, discrimination based on sexual orientation is constitutionally prohibited, and LGBTIQ+ people are, on paper, fully protected citizens. Still, queer lives are targeted, violated, and taken — often without consequence. Violence against queer people persists not just because of hate, but because our systems allow it to happen without punishment, letting perpetrators walk free under the cover of institutional neglect. Pride Month is a time meant to honour resilience and demand justice for all, despite gender and sexual orientation. The brutal murders of Hendricks, Thomas, and so many other vulnerable victims' murders serve as a searing reminder of the gap between legal recognition and lived experience. Laws may exist, but they have little weight when queer people are afraid to walk home, afraid to love openly, or to simply exist in peace. The violence in our society is not random; it is enabled by societal apathy, cultural prejudice, and the failure of institutions that are meant to protect our people. Queer people in our society still face oppressions and unspeakable violences, to the point of being dangerously normalised. According to the Mamba Online, 622 queer people were murdered in the span of just three months. From hate crimes and violences such as corrective rape, to various forms of institutional biases, queer people grapple with challenges such as unemployment, gender pay parities, exclusion in leadership, and more, purely because of their sexual orientation. This, being imposed in a constitutional democratic society, is an absolute travesty. This Pride Month, South Africa must look inward. The problem is not a lack of solid legislation, it is the deep-rooted stigma that festers in families, in religious communities, in townships, in schools, and in our justice system. Police still mock victims of queerphobic violence, and even refuse to acknowledge them. The SAPS has, in the past, been severely criticised for its harsh, dismissive attitude towards homophobic crimes. Courts drag their feet, sidelining homophobic violence and atrocities for more sensational — often political — cases. In addition to this, only 28.6% of Home Affairs branches had marriage officers who were willing to marry same sex couples. This is deplorable and shows that our government institutions don't take constitutional rights seriously. Politicians pay lip service to inclusion while staying silent when queer people are brutally murdered. Pride cannot be reduced to rainbow logos and corporate hashtags; it must be a genuine call to action. The era of empty promises is long gone. Legal protections mean nothing without moral conviction. Equality can't be legislated into existence alone. Our nation must reckon with the values it claims to uphold and confront the prejudices it still tolerates in its homes, churches, schools, streets, and beyond. What is required now is transformation at the level of mindset, culture, and conscience. Until queer lives are valued not just in law books but in everyday interactions, in homes, and in the hearts of our fellow citizens, our democracy remains incomplete. Pride means nothing if it leaves the most vulnerable among us behind. South Africa's youth — particularly during Youth Month — are uniquely positioned to be the driving force behind real change. Unburdened by some of the rigid prejudices of older generations, many young people are boldly challenging homophobia, transphobia, and the silence that surrounds queer issues in their communities. From student-led movements, to social media activism, the youth are demanding that queer rights be treated not as optional, but as essential to a just and inclusive society. They are reshaping cultural norms, holding institutions accountable, and creating spaces where queer identities are affirmed rather than erased. In a country where legal protections already exist, it is this generational shift, powered by the courage, creativity, and a refusal to settle for performative partnerships, that can transform SA from just a nation of progressive laws into a truly liberated society. This was the very essence of the national liberation movement: freedom and the entrenchment of equal human rights across our entire society. It is Section 9 of our Bill of Rights that explicitly stipulates the right to sexual orientation and prohibits discrimination in its entirety. South Africa is the First Nation ever to enshrine these protections in the Constitution. South Africa's youth have always been at the forefront of change — from the June 16 Soweto Uprising to #FeesMustFall. Today, they continue to breathe life into our constitutional promises. Young people have an undeniable, unyielding sense of justice, and their commitment to queer rights is critical to the advancement of Pride in our post-democratic society. The youth are not only defending human rights in our society, but expanding the meaning of freedom for future generations. They are holding institutions accountable and demanding that the values enshrined in the Constitution become lived realities for all, including queer communities. In South Africa, everyone in our society knows the fight for freedom, human rights and true liberation — past and present. True Pride means more than survival. If Pride is to mean anything in South Africa, it must move all of us, from law to culture, from silence to solidarity. This means dignity, safety, and freedom for all queer people. We owe it to Hendricks, Thomas, and to the innumerable lives taken by rampant, inhumane queerphobia, to demand nothing less than true justice. It is evident that: 'To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.' Until South Africa confronts the hatred that lives beyond its laws, Pride will remain a protest, not a celebration. * Tswelopele Makoe is a gender and social justice activist and editor at Global South Media Network. She is a researcher, columnist, and an Andrew W Mellon scholar at the Desmond Tutu Centre for Religion and Social Justice, UWC. The views expressed are her own. ** The views expressed here do not reflect those of the Sunday Independent, IOL, or Independent Media. Get the real story on the go: Follow the Sunday Independent on WhatsApp.