UFH
The murder of the security aide and driver of Fort Hare University Vice Chancellor, Sakhele Buhlungu, has sent shock waves through the country’s academic world.
Universities South Africa condemned the killing of Mbonele Vesele, who died in a hail of bullets outside the residence of the VC in Dikeni (formerly Alice) on Friday night.
“As Vice-Chancellors, we are deeply saddened by this particular development, which took place within the premises of a University Campus,” said USAF chairperson, Professor Sibongile Muthwa.
“Reports which indicate that this might have been an attempt on the life of our colleague, Professor Buhlungu, are hugely shocking,” Professor Muthwa said in a statement this weekend.
She said it was reportedly the second attempt on Professor Buhlungu’s life after shots were fired at his home in March, while the home of another Fort Hare University official was also shot at thereafter.
Professor Muthwa said these incidents came as the “Special Investigations Unit (SIU) was beginning to investigate various counts of corruption at Fort Hare, reportedly related to cleaning and gardening tenders and fraudulent issuing of qualifications.”
In a separate statement, Rhodes University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sizwe Mabizela, also condemned the attack and called on the police and the intelligence community to act swiftly to investigate and bring the perpetrators to book.
“We note with extreme concern that this is a second attempt on the life of Prof Buhlungu. There have also been other violent attacks on the members of the University of Fort Hare’s top management in the recent past. This cannot be allowed to continue,” he said.
“Failure to swiftly apprehend the culprits in such instances would create a wrong impression and set a dangerous precedent. This is not how successful societies are created. This must, and has to stop” said Professor Mabizela.
