University of Fort Hare’s Head of Investigations Arrested Among Tenth Suspect in Murder and Attempted Murder Cases

In a significant development, the South African Police Service (SAPS) National Task Team responsible for investigating murder and attempted murder cases at the University of Fort Hare (UFH) has made another breakthrough, leading to the arrest of the university’s Director responsible for Investigations and Vetting Services, Isaac Plaatjies.

Plaatjies, the tenth suspect to be apprehended in connection with these cases, was taken into custody last week and made a brief appearance at the Alice Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 20 November 2023. He is set to join the other nine accused, who were scheduled to appear before the same court on Tuesday.

The arrests have unfolded in a series of actions by the SAPS task team. In April 2023, five suspects were apprehended and charged for their involvement in the cases. Notable among them were Bongani Peter, Chief Operating Transport Officer at Fort Hare University, and Sicelo Mbulawa, a former SRC member and businessman associated with the university.

Despite their initial arrests, all five were denied bail at Dimbaza Court in May 2023. However, Mbulawa was granted R75,000 bail at the Makhanda High Court in November 2023 after a bail appeal.

The subsequent months saw the arrest of additional individuals linked to the unfolding investigation. In July 2023, Constable Lindokuhle Manjati, a police officer attached to Maderia SAPS Detection Services, was arrested and charged as accused 6. August brought the arrest of Zimele Chiliza, a taxi boss in KZN, and Pelisa Nkonyeni, an attorney and wife of a police officer, added as accused 7 and 8, respectively.

September 2023 saw Thamsanqa Mgwetyana located in KZN and charged, becoming the ninth accused.

The latest development on 17 November 2023 saw the arrest of Isaac Plaatjies, the University’s Director of Investigation and Vetting Services, who is now the tenth accused.

All ten individuals appeared at the Alice Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 21 November 2023. The proceedings were attended by the Management of the SAPS, led by Deputy Minister of Police, Mr Cassel Mathale, and the National Commissioner of SAPS, General Fannie Masemola.

The SAPS task team, while making these significant arrests, emphasizes that investigations are ongoing, and more arrests may be made in the future.