Five men have been arrested following an investigation into the murders of the University of Fort Hare's fleet manager, Petrus and the vice-chancellor's bodyguard, Mboneli. The accused men appeared at the Alice Magistrate's Court on Tuesday last week.
Mboneli Vesele, who had been the vice-chancellor's bodyguard for five years, was killed on 6 January when gunshots rocked the vice-chancellor's car at his Alice home. Although Buhlungu was not in the car and was not hurt, he needed to be moved to a safe place.
Peet Roets, the university’s fleet manager, was shot and killed on 19 May 2017, while returning from the Alice campus and travelling near his Gonubie home.
The arrests were heralded as a breakthrough by Higher Education Minister, Blade Nzimande, who commended the police for managing to arrest the alleged perpetrators of the murders.
Yesterday’s court appearance of these five accused perpetrators is a testament that police worked tirelessly to the culprits to book
The Minister further stated that he is also looking forward to the arrest of other suspects who collaborated with those that have been arrested in both of the murders.
Nzimande added he hopes that the ongoing case will serve as an example to discourage those who willingly commit crime and corruption within Post School Education and Training institutions.
He further stated that the High Education Department will continue to maintain a firm stance in fighting acts of corruption and maladministration in the sector. This will include implementing counter-measures to ensure the safety of employees and staff members in the sector.
Nzimande also welcomed the arrest of eight suspects accused of fraud and maladministration to the tune of millions of rands in an unrelated case involving South Cape TVET College. The accused appeared at George Magistrate Court on Friday last week.
