Johannesburg – The National Research Foundation (NRF) has added its voice to the growing condemnation of the murder of Mboneli Vesele, the bodyguard of University of Fort Hare (UFH) Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Sakhela Buhlungu.
RELATED: Bodyguard Shot Dead: Fort Hare VC Prof Sakhele Buhlungu At Safe House – The Bulrushes
Last week on Friday night, gunmen sprayed Buhlungu’s car with bullets.
Vesele was the only one in the car that was shot at outside the vice-chancellor’s residence in Alice, Eastern Cape.
Buhlungu has since been taken to a safe house.
The NRF on Tuesday said it condemns the “most recent attack on leadership at the university” that led to the death of Vesele.
The NRF, as a funder of UFH research, researchers and many of its postgraduate students, pledges its support to the university and for the ongoing investigation by the police, said NRF Chief Executive Officer, Professor Fulufhelo Nelwamondo.
I encourage the Vice-Chancellors of all our universities to take up Minister Blade Nzimandes invitation to engage with his department regarding all security-related issues that threaten the ability of higher education institutions to perform their duties in creating a conducive environment for knowledge production and innovation in support of a better society for all.
We extend our condolences to the Vesele family, friends, and his colleagues at UFH.
Prof Nelwamondo said the NRF would also like to wish all higher education institutions in the country well in their preparations for the 2023 academic year.
