The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has come out to say that the shooting incident where the University of Fort Hare Vice-Chancellor's bodyguard was killed, in a suspected hit, is not an isolated incident. Cosatu strongly believes the incident was an attempt to stop Sakhele Buhlungu's efforts to fight corruption within the institution. Buhlungu's bodyguard Mboneli Vesele was shot dead outside Buhlungu's house in Alice, Eastern Cape after dropping him off.
RELATED INCIDENTS
Cosatu says the attempted hit could be linked to the killing of another university official Petrus Roets. Roets was the university's transport and fleet manager and was gunned down in May 2021 as he was making his way home from work. Former deputy vice-chancellor of the institution Oscar van Heerden said he decided to quit for his own safety. "We views the incidents as an attempt to dampen Professor Sakhela Buhlungu's combative spirit in re-inculcating good governance with fighting corruption being at the heart of the renewal agenda he is spearheading. We align ourselves with those calling for SAPS to leave no stone unturned in unearthing those involved in the attack," said Cosatu spokesperson Mkhawuleli Maleki.
UNIVERSITY INVESTIGATED
In 2019 president Cyril Ramaphosa authorised the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) to investigate the institution's affairs. This includes alleged corruption, maladministration, awarding of honours degrees as well as tenders that were questionable. SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago saidi n August last year that they were investigating alleged unlawful and improper conduct that took place at the university between 1 November 2012 and 5 August 2022. "The SIU will investigate allegations of maladministration in the awarding of honours degrees, mismanagement of funds and sourcing of public servants for study into various faculty programmes by an individual for personal gain,' said Kganyago.
NO ARRESTS YET
SAPS in Eastern Cape says no suspects have been arrested in Vesele's murder. Eastern Cape police spokesperson Tembinkosi Kinana said: "TheSAPS were alerted to the shooting incident by members of the public. On arrival at the scene, they found the body of the deceased in the vehicle. "According to the report, the driver was arriving at the home of the vice-chancellor, when an unknown vehicle with unidentified occupants approached. The suspects started firing gunshots at the driver. Thev vice-chancellor was not in the car. The suspects later escaped in their getaway vehicle. Police have registered a murder case for investigation,' said Kinana.
