The recent shooting incident that resulted in the death of Mboneli Vesele (52) who worked as a bodyguard for the Vice Chancellor of the University of Fort Hare, Professor Sakhela Buhlungu, for five years has prompted national ministers such as Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande and Police Minister Bheki Cele to intervene.
Vesele, a native of Ginsberg in King William’s Town, was shot dead in the car he was driving after dropping off VC Professor Buhlungu at his home in Alice on Friday evening, January 6.
Speaking to IOL, VC Professor Buhlungu stated that he has never found peace since taking this position at Fort Hare. Politicians and businesspeople, he alleges, are opposing him.
“There are some politicians who have long asked me to resign from my position.
“All the while, people were turning a blind eye and saying nice things about what the iconic university was, but the rot was there,” Buhlungu explained.
The VC requested that Cyril Ramaphosa ensure his safety at this university.
According to National Higher Education spokesperson Ishmael Mnisi, Blade and his delegation, which included the Eastern Cape government, visited Fort Hare to find a solution to the problem, as this is not the first time such attacks have occurred. The group also paid a visit to Ginsberg at Vesele’s house.
According to Eastern Cape Police Spokesperson Brigadier Tembinkosi Kinana, a murder case has been opened and is being investigated.
Kinana urges anyone with information about Vesele’s death to come forward or call the Alice police station.
At this point in the investigation, no arrests have been made.
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