By Siyabonga Sesant.
Eastern Cape police were on Thursday seeking the community’s assistance in tracing three more suspects linked to the murder of Mboneli Vesele, the bodyguard of the vice-chancellor of the University of Fort Hare (UFH).
The university’s fleet and transport manager, Petrus Roets, was also shot and killed in East London in May 2022.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the police have obtained three arrest warrants for the trio, namely 24-year-old Bafana Chiliza, 28-year-old Nkosiyazi ‘Dipopoz’ Maphumulo, and 35-year-old Siphiwo ‘Spijojo’ Jejane.
They are believed to be on the run and hiding between the KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape provinces.
The suspects are wanted for the murders of Vesele and Roets.
In January 2023, Vesele was seated in his vehicle outside the vice-chancellor’s residence in the Eastern Cape when he was assassinated by three suspects who were driving a maroon vehicle.
Brigadier Mathe said Vesele sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was confirmed dead at the scene.
Ten other people have also since been arrested and are attending court.
They include several senior current and former officials at the university, including Bongani Peter, the chief operating transport officer at Fort Hare University, Sicelo Mbulawa, a former SRC member and businessman who also provided services at the university, and Isaac Plaatjies, the university’s Director of Investigation and Vetting Services.
Brigadier Mathe said the suspects allegedly colluded in order to be awarded security tenders.