Missing activist Vusi Mahlangu has apparently been found after disappearing this past Tuesday.
There are conflicting reports about whether a Unisa student who disappeared in the eastern Cape on Tuesday, March 29 has been found. Vusi Mhlangu, one of the organisers of the Outsourcing Must Fall campaign, disappeared under mysterious circumstances this week and according to a number of reports, has been found but police in the eastern Cape say they are continuing their search for him.
Mahlangu was apparently found by a private investigator and is now in hiding with minor bruises, according to a report by Times Live. The investigator was hired by The Workers International Vanguard Party (WIVL), who have confirmed that Mahlangu had been located. Times Live also reported that a close friend of Mahlangu’s, Mametlwe Sebei‚ confirmed that the activist had been found but was “not yet ready to disclose his location”. But IOL reports that police in the eastern Cape are unable to confirm that Mahlangu has been found and are continuing to search for him.
“The SAPS would like inform the public that the allegations that Vusi Mahlangu has been found are false. SAPS can further confirm that a Multidisciplinary Task Team is following on all leads in an effort to locate Mahlangu,” read a statement released by SAPS (South African Police Services) via their website.
At approximately 3pm on Friday, Mahlangu’s Facebook profile contained what appeared to be a statement from the missing student:
Dear Comrades and Friends,I can confirm that I am alive and relatively safe. I have injuries in my body but I will…
Posted by Nandisa G Khathi on Friday, 1 April 2016
Later in the evening, another post on the same Facebook profile read, “A lot has happened since one was taken to that dark interrogation chamber and it will require more time for me to comment on them”.
Greetings Azania and the world. A lot has happened since one was taken to that dark interrogation chamber and it will…
Posted by Vusi Mahlangu on Friday, 1 April 2016
Mahlangu disappeared while en route to a meeting with workers at the Walter Sisulu University (WSU). According to reports, Mahlangu’s friends and colleagues raised the alarm about his disappearance after receiving a cryptic SMS from him.
On Friday, a group of Wits University students gathered outside the Great Hall to raise awareness about the plight of the missing activist while on social media, many others showed their solidarity with hashtag #BringBackVusi.