By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
University of Fort Hare (UFH) vice-chancellor, Professor Sakhela Buhlungu, has been moved to a “safe” location after one of his bodyguards was shot dead on Friday night.
The shooting was confirmed by university spokesperson JP Roodt.
The bodyguard was in Buhlungu’s vehicle when the incident happened. Buhlungu had been dropped off at home, just seconds earlier, and was not in the vehicle when the shooting took place.
“The University of Fort Hare confirms a fatal shooting incident outside the official Dikeni residence of the vice-chancellor during the early evening hours of Friday night, “Roodt said.
“The executive protection officer and security aide to Professor Sakhela Buhlungu was killed after gunfire was opened and sprayed on the vice-chancellor’s university vehicle.”
“Shots were overheard several kilometres away by other executive staff members residing in the Dikeni staff village when the incident occurred.
“The vice-chancellor is unharmed, survived the assassination attempt and is at safe location.”
The university added that it was aware that images and videos of the bullet-riddled vehicle were circulating on social media.
It said, 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.
The university has asked for trauma and counselling services to be made available to students and staff.
This is not the first attempted assassination of Buhlungu.
In March 2022, a man was captured on CCTV footage climbing over a wall and firing three shots at Buhlungu’s house.