Fort Hare VC condemns law enforcement inaction

Three weeks after a devastating arson attack and violent unrest crippled the historic University of Fort Hare, Vice-Chancellor Professor Sakhela Buhlungu has issued a scathing rebuke of law enforcement's failure to act decisively.

- Edwin Naidu

The university, whose alumni include Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo, and Robert Mugabe, suffered extensive damage, estimated at between R300 million and R500 million.

Several key buildings, including the main administrative and student affairs offices on the Alice Campus, were petrol-bombed, leaving the institution reeling.

"Buildings were torched, documents burnt. Given the scale of the destruction, I expected far more support," Buhlungu told University World News.

"Instead, the parliamentary committee tried to shift blame onto management. It's preposterous."

Buhlungu, who survived an assassination attempt in January 2023 that claimed the life of his bodyguard, Mboneni Vesele, believes the recent violence was "nationally orchestrated" by a coalition of politicians, taxi operators, and local government officials, using students as proxies.

He has led the university since 2017 and has been a vocal opponent of corruption.

While avoiding direct accusations, Buhlungu suggested that individuals currently under investigation or facing disciplinary hearings exploited the unrest to retaliate.

"No one imagined they'd stoop to such desperation — destroying buildings, documents, and irreplaceable assets. This criminality knows no bounds."

Despite the severity of the incident, Buhlungu said police have yet to interview him or his colleagues.

He called for a thorough investigation to uncover the motives behind the attacks.