The case against 10 people charged with the murder of University of Fort Hare fleet manager Petrus Roets and the university’s vice-chancellor’s bodyguard Richard Vesele has been postponed to December 13.
The suspects are also charged with the attempted murder of vice-chancellor, professor Sakhele Buhlungu, and deputy vice-chancellor Renuka Vithal.
This after police in Eastern Cape arrested a 10th suspect in connection with murder and attempted murder cases at the institution on Monday.
The group appeared in the Dikeni magistrate’s court and the case was remanded for the finalisation of a bail application by some of the accused.
The suspects – Bongani Peter, Sicelo Mbulawa, Wanini Khuza, Mthobisi Khanyile, Mthobisi Dlamini, Lindokuhle Manjati, Zimele Chiliza, Phelisa Nkonyeni, Thamsanqa Mgotyana and Isaac Plaatjies – face three counts of attempted murder, two counts of murder, reckless discharge of a firearm, theft of a motor vehicle and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.
Peter, Mbulawa and Khuza face an additionally charge of fraud.
Hired hitmen denied bail
Mbulawa was granted R75 000 bail, however, the state successfully opposed the granting of bail to alleged hitmen Khanyile and Dlamini, as well as policeman Manjati.
The bail applications of Peter and Khuza will proceed on November 27 while those of Chiliza, Nkonyeni, Mgotyani and Plaatjies are scheduled for November 30 and December 1.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Luxolo Tyali said police investigations led to the arrests of the 10 men, who played different roles in the crimes including soliciting hitmen from KwaZulu-Natal, housing them, and transporting them to commit the crimes.
It is alleged that the killings emerged after Buhlungu was appointed and discovered serious deals of maladministration, corruption and fraud.
“He acted upon these discoveries and opened criminal cases as well as disciplinary proceedings against alleged culprits who occupied senior positions at the university,” said Tyali.
As a result, Buhlungu received threats, leading to Vesele being appointed as his bodyguard. Vesele was killed in a hail of bullets in January 2023.
Before his murder two shooting incidents happened, which were preceded by the murder of Roets in May 2022.
