Incidents of violence towards staff members at Fort Hare University have garnered the attention of both the South African Police Service and the Higher Education Department.
This comes after a failed assassination attempt on Sakhela Buhlungu, vice chancellor of the University of Fort Hare, left her executive protection officer Mboneni Vesele dead over the weekend.
During his visit to the higher learning institution on Wednesday, Higher Education Minister, Blade Nzimande condemned the incident after a series of assassinations and threats on staff at the university.
It has also been reported that numerous assaults were also committed in March last year at the residences of the vice chancellor and two other top university officials.
The Minister also urged the public to share any pertinent information that could help SAPS in resolving the case, adding that an investigation by the SAPS is already underway.
I remain outraged by this inhumane act of disdain and strongly condemn it. I however remain more confident that the law enforcement agencies, led by the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele have already begun investigations into this outrageous act to find and hold those responsible accountable.
The administration of Fort Hare University has been reassured by Police Minister Bheki Cele that police are stepping up their reaction to recent violent and fatal attacks at the institution.
A multidisciplinary team has been assembled by National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola to probe the pattern of threats made against the staff members of the institution.
The multidisciplinary team will include of detectives, forensic analysts, criminal intelligence, members of organised crime, and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI).
The team, which would immediately answer to the National Commissioner's office, was expected to start its investigations into Vesele's murder, according to Police Ministry spokesperson Lirandzu Themba.
She added that the investigation's scope would also cover other suspected attempted attacks on university employees, such as the deadly shooting of Petrus Roets, the fleet manager at Fort Hare University, in March of last year.
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