The vice chancellor of the University of Fort Hare survived an assassination attempt that claimed the life of his bodyguard.
- A group of concerned citizens have condemned last week’s assassination attempt on the VC of Fort Hare University and the murder of his bodyguard.
- Members of the group, which includes former Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas, have called for a joint effort by police and citizens to protect the institution.
- They say allegations of corruption and mismanagement have denied the institution recognition for its historic academic excellence.
A group of concerned citizens have expressed concern following the attempt on the life of Professor Sakhela Buhlungu, Vice Chancellor (VC) of the University of Fort Hare, last week.
Buhlungu’s bodyguard, Mboneli Vesele, was killed in the attempt while the VC were unharmed. He was moved to a safe place.
The shooting occurred outside Buhlungu’s residence in Alice, in the Eastern Cape.
Buhlungu, appointed to a second term last year, was recognized for implementing recovery strategies and rooting out corruption at the embattled university.
The group, which includes former Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas, former head of the National Prosecutor’s Office Vusi Pikoli and author Songezo Zibi, said corruption and mismanagement at the university had robbed it of its honor for historic academic excellence.
READ | The vice chancellor of the University of Fort Hare has moved to a “safe place” after a bodyguard was shot and killed
They said that the safety of academics and administrators fighting for transformation in public institutions must not be compromised.
The group said: “The current efforts to clean up its administration, transform its academic culture and raise its standards deserve the support of all South Africans.
Vice Chancellor of the University of Fort Hare, Professor Sakhela Buhlungu.
“Academics and administrators are public servants who should not need armed protection to perform their duties on behalf of the nation. Universities perform a vital service to society. They are repositories of knowledge and training grounds for the next generation of leaders. No They must be death camps.”
The group called on South Africans to safeguard the institution and on the government to protect Buhlungu.
He also called on law enforcement to investigate his assassination attempt and the murder of Vesele.
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