A security guard at the home of University of Fort Hare vice-chancellor Prof Sakhela Buhlungu has described the terrifying moments leading up to the murder of Buhlungu’s bodyguard, Mboneli Vesele, in January 2023.
The guard, Mphumezi Mpintshana, told the Bhisho high court on Monday how he phoned Vesele after hearing a volley of gunshots near Buhlungu’s home — unaware that Vesele had already been fatally shot just metres away.
Vesele had instructed the guards to call him immediately if there was a problem, Mpintshana said.
“I called Mr Vesele first because he used to tell us that when there’s a problem he should be the first person to be called.
“I called him because I didn’t know what was happening. There was no answer. I started panicking.”
Eight accused — Zimele Chiliza, Mthobisi Khanyile, Nkosiyazi Maphumulo, Bafana Chiliza, Thamsanqa Mgwetyana, Lindokuhle Manjati, Phelisa Nkonyeni and Isaac Plaatjies — have pleaded not guilty to charges including Vesele’s murder, conspiracy to murder, unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, and possession of a semi-automatic rifle and a .38 revolver.
Chiliza, Manjati, Nkonyeni and Plaatjies, a former UFH director of investigations and vetting, also face charges of defeating the ends of justice.
It is alleged they encouraged Mgwetyana to flee to evade arrest and paid him money to do so, and that Plaatjies instructed him to destroy cellphone evidence.
The state is calling for the minimum prescribed sentence of life, arguing that the murder was planned and premeditated, and carried out by a group acting with common purpose.
It is also seeking 15 years’ imprisonment for unlawful possession of a semi-automatic rifle.
Vesele was gunned down on January 6 2023 in Dikeni.
Mpintshana, who has worked at the university for five years, told the court that at about 8.15pm he saw a vehicle speeding past.
“The high speed was scary. It made me sit on the tip of the chair in the guard house.”
He said he then saw the lights of another vehicle.
“I left the guard house and walked towards the gate. When I reached the small entrance … I peeped through the hole in the entrance and saw two vehicles, about 10m away.
“When I looked at the vehicles, their parallels were not normal [how the vehicles were positioned].
“When I tried to look, I couldn’t see properly. All I could hear were the voices.
“While trying to look at what was happening, I heard a gunshot. Another gunshot went off and afterwards there were multiple shots.
“Because I was so scared and not knowing what was happening, I hid behind the wall.
“As I was hiding, the shooting continued and I didn’t know who was shooting.”
When the gunfire stopped, he returned to the guard house where the phone was ringing. Two other guards were calling to ask if he had heard the shots.
He then phoned Vesele, followed by his senior, reporting that there had been a shooting at the vice-chancellor’s home. Backup arrived about 30 minutes later.
“When they went outside, they saw the vice-chancellor’s vehicle in the street. We were scared to get close to it.
“Those that got closer said they saw Mr Vesele laying on the steering wheel. The vice-chancellor’s vehicle was the only one outside,” he said.
Under cross-examination, Mpintshana said he later saw the registration number of the speeding car in a frozen CCTV frame.
He did not know where Vesele had been before he was shot, nor was he aware of any threats against him. “I didn’t know who shot Vesele,” he said.
The trial continues on Tuesday.
Former UFH employees Bongani Peter and Bongani Khuza, along with former SRC member Sicelo Mbulawa, will stand trial separately in the East London high court from November 24 to December 5, after judge Igna Stretch granted an application for separation of trials.
Mthobisi Dlamini, who was initially charged alongside the others, entered into a plea agreement in August and was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment for the theft of a Jeep allegedly used in Vesele’s murder.
Daily Dispatch
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.