The University of Fort Hare Vice-Chancellor Professor Sakhele Buhlungu has been moved to a safe house after his bodyguard was shot dead in Friday night’s attack.
The vice-chancellor was not in his car when gunmen sprayed it with bullets outside his residence in Alice, Eastern Cape.
The Citizen is reporting that the university spokesperson, JP Roodt, said the shooting took place outside the vice-chancellors Alice residence.
Buhlungu was unharmed, he added.
The Citizen quoted Roodt as saying Vesele was in the vice-chancellors car at the time of the shooting.
The executive protection officer and security aide to Professor Sakhela Buhlungu was killed after gunfire was opened and sprayed on the vice-chancellors university vehicle, he said.
Shots were overheard several kilometres away by other executive staff members residing in the Alice staff village.
Roodt said after the shooting, Buhlungu was moved out of the vice-chancellors house.
The vice-chancellor is unharmed, survived the assassination attempt, and is at a safe location, Roodt said.
Condemning the deadly attack, Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister Dr. Blade Nzimande on Saturday said he was “outraged and strongly condemns the murder of Mr. Mboneli Vesele, the Executive Protection Officer to the University of Fort Hare, Vice Chancellor, Professor Sakhele Buhlungu”.
Although investigations are at an early stage, all indications are that the assailant/s was/were targeting Prof Buhlungu, who at the time of the incident
“The Minister passes his heartfelt condolences to the Vesele Family, Friends, and the University of Fort Hare,” said the Department of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation.
Although investigations are at an early stage, all indications are that the assailant/s was/were targeting Prof Buhlungu, who at the time of the incident was not in the car, the department said.
I outrightly condemn this barbaric murder of Mr. Vesele and the attempt on the life of Prof Buhlungu,” said Dr. Nzimande.
“This attack is not only an attack on the University of Fort Hare but also an attack on the entire Post School Education and Training sector.
Although no arrests have been reported, the minister appealed for calm, while investigations were underway.
I also encourage all the vice-chancellors and TVET college principals to engage with my department on all security-related issues to enable us to engage with the Cabinet security cluster, particularly on security concerns that have an impact on the institutions ability to perform their duties, said Dr. Nzimande.
The minister said he has directed Higher Health, a department agency responsible for wellness, to work with the university to provide psycho-social support to the Vesele family and to all affected university employees, especially those who have been working very closely with the deceased.
“The minister is currently engaging with all the stakeholders and has written a letter to the University of Fort Hare Council to engage on how best to deal with the situation,” said the department.
Meanwhile, the Economic Freedom Fighters warned: The fact that a leader of an academic institution must walk around with security protection is, in itself, a symbol of a lawless and morally decaying society.
