Staff members and students at Fort Hare University in Dikeni/Alice are concerned about their safety following an assassination attempt on their vice-chancellor which led to the death of his bodyguard, Mboneli Vesele, on Friday.
A Bachelor of Science student, who is also a political leader at the institution, said he was worried that unprogressive forces targeting Prof Sakhela Buhlungu would victimise student leaders who stand for the same values.
“I am scared. I don’t know if we can confidently raise student issues anymore because the V-C was the one championing for students to be prioritised and for corruption to be rooted out,” the student said.
“He called it ‘the decade of renewal’. He was intentional about helping students and we worked with him to reach that goal. I am not confident that we will be safe or comfortable to raise those issues without looking over our shoulder because some factions within the university might also be victimised or target us.”
Nehawu provincial secretary Mlu Ncapayi said staff members, many of whom were expected to return to their campus-based residences from Tuesday [today], have raised scepticism about their safety, with some already delaying their return.
“Some of our members who had gone away for the festive, have already started calling us saying how anxious they are and questioning whether it is safe to return to campus.
“We are calling on the mister of police, Bheki Cele, to ensure that students and staff are safe on campus and that there are no other such attempts on staff members.
“We believe that the V-C, with his vision, has saved the university from collapse. The institution was in a bad financial state and him cleaning it up saved it. Acts of criminality should not be accepted."
Speaking to Sowetan sister publication Daily Dispatch, Buhlungu said he believed there is a hidden hand behind the case of the university’s fleet and transport manager, who was gunned down in Gonubie, East London in 2022.
Petrus Roets was shot dead by two gunmen on May 19 in a suspected hit at the Gonubie off-ramp.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Tembinkosi Kinana said police were investigating a case of murder and the suspects were still at large.
Buhlungu, who believes he was the target of an assassination attempt, said the case involving the fleet manager had been at a critical stage but somehow it had stalled.
It was “clear it’s something that’s man-made and orchestrated”.
“None of them [government officials] has asked what happened to that case, nothing,” he said.
“It’s as if a dog died that day.
“Nothing. No big deal. The whole lot, nothing. These are the officials who are supposed to look after our well-being.
“Nobody said anything. Why do you expect me now to waste my time with those people?”
Buhlungu was speaking after Vesele was gunned down outside Buhlungu’s house.
The vice-chancellor suspects the shooting was a failed assassination attempt.
He said the university did not get enough support from the government after it had ramped up its war on graft — a move he said had met with fierce resistance from rogues who benefited from crooked deals.
Buhlungu said he had now pinned his hopes on President Cyril Ramaphosa to address the safety and security concerns after several attacks on Fort Hare staff members.
"I spoke to the minister [of higher education, Blade Nzimande]. He called me, I won’t divulge what we said."
Nzimande is expected to visit Fort Hare today.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.