The University of Fort Hare (UFH) has extended its condolences to the family of a second bodyguard to die under what they term “highly suspicious” circumstances.
Thirty-three-year-old Msingathi Langa is the second university bodyguard to die this year following a car crash on Sunday morning.
Earlier this year, the Vice Chancellor’s protector, Mboneli Vesele, died in a hail of bullets in a suspected hit on VC, Sakhela Buhlungu.
Last month, five suspects were arrested in connection with cases of murder and attempted murder.
The accused are Sicelo Mbulawa, Bongani Peter, Wanini Khuza, Mthobisi Khanyile and Mthobisi Zondo/Dlamini.
They are facing a string of charges including the murders of Petrus Roets who was gunned down on 19 May 2022 and Vesele who was shot earlier this year.
UFH spokesperson JP Roodt, says the university is devastated by the death of Langa who was a loyal and brave employee of the University.
Roodt says Langa started his career at the University in 2013 and will him for always having one of the warmest and most sincere smiles, and for the deep levels of respect and courtesy he exhibited to those he worked with.
He says the necessary psycho-social and counselling support services are being provided not only to the Langa family but also to his colleagues in protection services.
Speaking on the investigation Roodt said the University noted with concern a televised interview where the Police Minister Mr Bheki Cele indicated that foul play cannot be ruled out.
He expressed the University's concern over the lack of basic and fundamental procedural forensic protocols on the crime scene on Sunday morning.
“No accident reports were taken or filed before the vehicles were moved. We have established that the eQonce police station omitted to document the vehicle registration details of the car that rammed into Mr Langa's car in the station's OB (Occurrence Book).”
Roodt says that authorities failed to take blood tests to determine if the accident was a case of drunken driving or deliberate, despite the fact that the driver was delivered to the police through a civil arrest by their protection services.
He further stated that authorities knew the identity of the driver on Sunday, yet only made an arrest on Tuesday.
“These developments, in our opinion, are highly suspicious. The University formally requests an investigation into police conduct,” he added.
