Two of the three men accused of killing Mbonele Vesele, the bodyguard for the University of Fort Hare’s vice-chancellor, Sakhela Buhlungu, have been arrested almost 30 months after the hit. The National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, confirmed on Monday that two of the three men implicated in the murder of Mbonele Vesele, the bodyguard for University of Fort Hare Vice- Chancellor Sakhela Buhlungu, were arrested in Johannesburg after a manhunt that lasted seven months. A third man is still on the run.
Masemola said the police were thankful to all those who helped investigators to track down the men. On 6 January 2023, Vesele was shot and killed inside a vehicle while waiting for Buhlungu outside his home in Dikeni (formerly Alice).
Pictures of the three suspects had been circulated since 15 November 2024 after the police obtained arrest warrants for Bafana Chiliza (34), Nkosiyazi “Dipopoz” Maphumulo (28) and Siphiwo “Spijojo” Jejane (38).
Masemola said: “On 21 June 2025, the team proceeded to Zakkariya Park [near Lenasia in Johannesburg] following intelligence and information from members of the public. Two of the three hitmen were arrested. The SAPS confirms Bafana Chiliza and Nkosiyazi Maphumulo are in custody and will be charged accordingly.
“Members of the public play a significant role in assisting the work of the police in apprehending wanted suspects. We thank all stakeholders for playing their part.
He said the total number of suspects arrested in relation to the Fort Hare murders now stood at 12. Ten others were arrested in 2023, with some still in police custody.
Vesele sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the body and was confirmed dead at the scene.
An intensive investigation by a national task team investigating political-related cases yielded positive results when they arrested 10 suspects including three university employees who are suspected to be behind the plot.
In an interview in March 2024 Buhlungu recounted the event and his quest to obtain justice for Vesele and Petrus Roets, the university’s fleet and transport manager, who was shot and killed in Gonubie, East London, on 19 May 2022.
The other suspects arrested for the murders included a fellow police officer, a local businessman and lawyer, students, university employees – including the head of vetting and investigations, Isaac Plaatjies – and hitmen from KwaZulu-Natal
In court documents the State links Roets’s murder to an extensive anti-corruption campaign that Buhlungu had initiated, which earned him death threats. Roets was one of the people he had appointed to correct the situation. Vesele was appointed as Buhlungu’s bodyguard, which aggrieved Plaatjies, according to the indictment before court. It is alleged that some of the accused asked him to persuade Vesele to join their mission to oust Buhlungu, but he refused to betray his boss, giving the accused a reason to kill him.
“I remember stepping on to a podium and saying we will never let this case go. It will never get cold. Of course, the media was there and they ran with it. We put our resources into this. First, we cracked the Roets case. But then Vesele was killed,” Buhlungu said at the time.
“I was back on the podium and, this time, I said forget the police and the police commissioner, and the national minister of this or the other. President Cyril Ramaphosa must act now. Then the President phoned. He heard the message. It was very clear.”
Buhlungu said that by the time Ramaphosa called he was fearing for his own life but had to hide it.
“There were messages of sympathy coming in from all over the world. I was concerned for my life as well, but there was a bigger picture.
“I couldn’t afford to be weak or scared at that time. I had to be scared inside. That was the face the public saw.”
A national task team was subsequently formed. While the arrests started and continued through 2023 and 2024, the hitmen who allegedly shot Vesele remained on the run, until now.
The men appeared in the Alice Magistrates’ Court on Monday and their case was postponed to 21 July. They asked to be remanded to the East London correctional facility where they could receive medical assistance, since they claim they were assaulted during their arrest.
The case was postponed to enable the police to hold an identity parade.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the police are still searching for the third suspect, Siphiwo Jejane. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is encouraged to contact Warrant Officer Nkosi on 082 557 5789 or Sergeant Mokoena on 081 851 7758.
media is awaiting comment from Buhlungu and also from Luxolo Tyali from the National Prosecuting Authority on the further conduct of the murder case.