News24 | University of Fort Hare killings: Police arrest 15 more people

Police have arrested 15 more people in connection with killings at the University of Fort Hare. (University of Fort Hare/Facebook)

Police arrested 15 more people in connection with killings at the University of Fort Hare. It brings the number of people arrested in the case to 25. The 15 were arrested in Gauteng, Eastern Cape, Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. 

Police have arrested 15 more people in connection with killings at the University of Fort Hare.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe on Sunday confirmed to News24 that the national task team had made another breakthrough.

“The South African Police Service (SAPS) National Task Team assigned with the responsibility of investigating and arresting those responsible for murder and attempted murder cases at the University of Fort Hare has effected 15 more arrests,” she said.

It brings the number of people arrested in the case to 25. 

The 15 were arrested in various provinces over the Easter weekend, including Gauteng, Eastern Cape, Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. 

They face a string of charges, ranging from fraud, corruption, kidnapping, murder and attempted murder. 

The bodyguard of the university’s vice-chancellor, Professor Sakhele Buhlungu, died in a hail of bullets on 6 January 2023 when he was shot in the vice-chancellor’s car.

READ | Fort Hare killings: Court denies bail for ‘dangerous and dishonest’ Isaac Plaatjies

Buhlungu was not in the vehicle, but was later taken to a safe house.

Mboneli Vesele had been hired as Buhlungu’s bodyguard five years ago after the vice-chancellor received death threats for allegedly trying to end serious maladministration and fraud at the university.

Mathe added that the 15 people were expected to make their first appearance in the Dimbaza Magistrate’s Court in the Eastern Cape on Tuesday.

The national police commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, said the task team would continue to do its work, with no fear or favour. 

He added:

The team has been hard at work in getting to the bottom of who is behind fraud, corruption and the murders at the university. They will continue to investigate and hunt those who are found to have had a hand in any wrongdoing.

“Our focus is to bring before court a case that will be able to stand in court, with all the evidence that has been collected by the team,” he said. 

In January last year, Police Minister Bheki Cele established a task team to intensify the police’s response to the recent violent and fatal attacks at the institution.

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