COURT DISMISSES APPLICATION BY UFH FRAUD AND CORRUPTION ACCUSED
The NPA has successfully opposed the application by 12 of the 15 accused persons recently charged for fraud and corruption committed against the University of Fort Hare (UFH) for Alice Magistrates’ Court, sitting in Dimbaza, to strike their case off the court roll. The accused persons will now make a formal bail application in the same court on 11 and 12 April 2024.
Anna Smith, Paul Tladi, Lucrecia Davids, Mbulelo Gingcana, Nkateko Mawila, Nozuko Mabombo, Thamsanqa Sonjica, Terrence Joubert, Bradley Conradie, Craig Retief, Anwar Khan and Nthabiseng Makhoba, were arrested over the Easter Weekend by the police national task team investigating criminality in at UFH, which has resulted in murders and attempted murders. They were arrested along with Sarga Burger and Gosain van der Haar, who were granted R50 000 each, as well as Isaac Plaatjies who abandoned bail.
The fifteen, nine of whom were UFH employees, and the rest being service providers, are accused of having colluded in giving each other tender contracts at the university in return for gratifications. The total amount of funds paid by UFH to the service providers is more than R172 million, with the bulk of it allegedly finding its way to the pockets of the accused university employees. The conclusion of these tenders was allegedly preceded by violent acts at UFH.
Plaajties is charged in a separate matter, with nine people for the murder of University of Fort Hare (UFH) fleet manager, Petrus Roets, and the university’s Vice-chancellor’s (VC) bodyguard, Richard Vesele, attempted murder of VC, Professor Sakhele Buhlungu and Deputy VC, Renuka Vithal, as well as corruption are due in Bhisho High Court on 08 October 2024. All of them but one charged in this case remain in custody after they were denied bail.
The NPA will oppose the bail applications of the 12 charged in the recently enrolled case and plans to add more charges against them.
Statement issued by Luxolo Tyali, NPA Regional Spokesperson, Eastern Cape Division, 5 April 2024
