PHUTI MOSOMANE
A multi-disciplinary team has been established to closely investigate the pattern of threats on the lives of the staff members at the University of Fort Hare, Police Minister Bheki Cele has announced.
[HAPPENING NOW] Security cluster ministers Cele &Kodwa together with @HigherEduGovZA Min Nzimande, @PresidencyZA Minister Ngungubele & Eastern Cape MECs arrive at the family home of slain protector, Mboneli Vesele who was the driver for @forthare_Uni VC Prof Sakhele Buhlungu. pic.twitter.com/FBX2drPQvk
— Lirandzu Themba (@LirandzuThemba) January 11, 2023
Cele has assured the management of UFH that police are intensifying their responses to the recent violent and fatal attacks that have taken place in and around the university.
“The Ministry has welcomed the heightened policing interventions by the South African Police Service (SAPS) to find those responsible for a series of attacks on University staff, which have claimed two lives,” he said.
A multi-disciplinary team was established following a visit to the Eastern Cape province on Wednesday, led by Cele, Deputy Minister of State Security Zizi Kodwa, and the National Commissioner of the SAPS, General Fannie Masemola.
Cele said the team, which will report directly to the office of the National Commissioner, is expected to commence its investigations into the murder of bodyguard and driver Mboneni Vesele who was killed last Friday night.
“Mr Vesele was a close protector and driver of Fort Hare University Vice Chancellor, Professor Sakhela Buhlungu, he was killed while inside the Professors vehicle. The scope of the investigative team will also include other alleged attempted hits on University staff, including the murder of Fort Hare University fleet manager, Petrus Roets, who was fatally shot last year March,” he said, adding that the high-level intervention is necessary and must produce results.
“It is quite clear that the local police are just not working fast enough in making arrests and this newly established National team, through its work, must send a strong message to criminals that this government will not be threatened or shaken and will certainly not back down or co-govern with criminals.”
The multi-disciplinary team will include Detectives, Forensic analysts, Crime Intelligence, members of Organised Crime and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI).
“As we start the academic year, we can’t afford to have anyone, be it a student, a lecturer and even a groundsman or cleaner of this institution feel uneasy about their safety. This is why the team must work closely with University staff and the intelligence community to crack the cases that will see the culprits go to jail. This, I am sure will guarantee that this respected institution is not turned into a killing field,” Cele concluded.
The high level team of Security Cluster ministers and the SAPS management on Wednesday paid a comfort visit to the bereaved family of the slain protector, Vesele.
According to the department, the delegation also met with UFH Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sakhela Buhlungu, who expressed his appreciation for ramped up police response from the national office, to prevent combat and investigate crime within the institution.
On Monday, the university said Buhlungu was moved to a “safer location” following a “planned assassination” attempt.
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