Fort Hare VC Buhlungu’s slain protector laid to rest

Mboneli Vesele was gunned down outside Buhlungu’s home, in an attack that’s believed to have been targeting the VC.  

The motive for the attack is not yet known but is believed to be linked to Buhlungu's anti-corruption campaign at the historic institution.  

Buhlungu has been quoted as saying the special investigating unit (SIU) probe into allegations of maladministration relating to the awarding of honours degrees and corruption at the institution may have been the reason for the attack. 

The ministers of police and higher education Bheki Cele and Blade Nzimande, as well as minister in the presidency Mondli Gungubele visited the university following news of the deadly shooting.  

Concerns over the violence meted against officials after the body of Fort Hare University's Transport Manager, Petrus Roets, was found in his car in East London in December last year.  

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Nzimande conceded that there is corruption at universities. 

"A few of our vice-chancellors have protectors and also in the TVET colleges some of our principals have got bodyguards, though the reasons are varied, but the common factor is that we do have the challenge of corruption that has crept into the post-school education, and training institutions." 

During the visit, the police minister announced the establishment of a multi-disciplinary team to investigate the pattern of threats on the lives of the staff members of the institution.