University of Fort Hare vice-chancellor Prof Sakhela Buhlungu’s bodyguard was shot and killed in a suspected assassination attempt outside Buhlungu’s house in Alice in the Eastern Cape on Friday night.
Buhlungu was moved to a “safe location” after his bodyguard was killed.
According to the university spokesperson JP Roodt, Mboneli Vesele was killed during a “planned assassination” outside the vice-chancellor’s residence.
“The University of Fort Hare confirms a fatal shooting outside the official Alice residence of the vice-chancellor during the early evening hours of Friday,” Roodt said.
“The executive protection officer and the security aide to Professor Sakhela Buhlungu was killed after gunfire was opened and sprayed on the vice-chancellor’s vehicle.”
“Shots were overheard several kilometres away by other executive staff members residing in the Alice staff village… The vice-chancellor is unharmed, survived the assassination attempt and is at a safe location.”
The University of Fort Hare said it was aware of photos and videos of the bullet-riddled vehicle circulating on social media. It urged people not to share this.
“Out of respect for Mr. Vesele and his family, and to preserve his dignity, we ask that the UFH community refrains from disseminating these visuals.”
Police spokesperson Brigadier Thembinkosi Kinana said the vice chancellor had just arrived home when unidentified occupants in an unknown vehicle opened fire, hitting the driver, who succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
“The suspects later escaped in their getaway vehicle. Police have registered a murder case for investigation. The circumstances surrounding the incident will also form part of the investigation,” Kinana added.
Source: News24, The Citizen, Dispatch Live, Sowetan Live, image from Twitter: @MarvelHlungwan