News24 reports that the team probing the murders of University of Fort Hare (UFH) officials told the Dimbaza Magistrate’s Court on Thursday that it didn't have the capacity to monitor the accused should they be released on bail.

The investigating officer leading the team which is investigating the killings at UFH, Sergeant Accasius Smitla Mokoena, indicated that he was opposed to the five suspects being granted bail. Mokoena said he didn't have the time or the resources to monitor the two alleged hitmen, namely Mthobisi Khanyile and Mthobisi Dlamini, to ensure they didn't interfere with the investigation. Mokoena claimed that the two men were trigger-happy and would shoot or intimidate witnesses. He alleged that the two were either the actual hitmen or worked very closely with the hitmen who killed the university's fleet manager, Petrus Roets, and Mboneli Vesele, the bodyguard of the vice-chancellor, Professor Sakhela Buhlungu. Khanyile and Dlamini were linked to the crimes via fingerprints lifted from an abandoned maroon Jeep SUV, which is believed to have been used to stalk Vesele. "They knew the witnesses [in the initial case of Roets' murder] and wanted them killed. Evidence shows that they are a very organised, highly efficient group. That means there is a strong likelihood that they will interfere with the witnesses," said Mokoena.   In his view, the brazen nature of the offence placed the lives of ordinary citizens in great danger. Khanyile and Dlamini are the alleged hitmen that the three other accused hired to embark on a killing spree against officials trying to block corruption at UFH. Khanyile and Dlamini have denied all allegations.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Malibongwe Dayimani at News24

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