Livestock, students share WSU

Livestock and students are sharing the facilities at Walter Sisulu University in Mthatha and Butterworth.

Goats, sheep, cattle and horses tramp along corridors, through auditoriums and into libraries at both Nelson Mandela Drive and Zamukulungisa campuses, as well as Ibika campus in Gcuwa, Butterworth.

The problem is with the university ’s perimeter fences.

WSU spokesperson Yonela Tukwayo blamed the huge and persistent holes on criminals, vandals and students who smuggle in alcohol.

SRC publicity officer Asanda Mtshezi said cows on campus had been a feature for many years, but there had been a sudden rise in the number of farm animals on campus and it was getting out of control.

“There are all sorts of animals you can think of just roaming around.”

Mtshezi said having livestock on campus was embarrassing.

“In what other university will you ever find animals roaming around like this? Nowhere else, it is just WSU,” she said.

Mtshezi said their right to education was being undermined because the animals were disturbing academic life.

Tukwayo agreed the animals were a problem.

“Yes, we do have a challenge of stray animals wandering in. This has also been a challenge for security staff, who have to find a way of herding them out of campus,” Tukwayo said.