State reveals R110m Mpumalanga education fraud docket in court
Charges were dropped against one accused after investigators determined he was used as a scapegoat.
Warrants of arrest have been issued for two suspects who failed to appear in court in connection with a R110m Mpumalanga fraud and corruption case.
The state has disclosed the docket against 39 suspects accused of fraud and corruption amounting to a loss of more than R110m in the Mpumalanga Department of Education.
Thirty-eight suspects appeared in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, August 27, where the case against one of the accused, Knowledge Mhlabane, was withdrawn.
The withdrawal of charges against Mhlabane followed evidence suggesting he did not actively participate in the events that led to the charges.
“Our investigations revealed that as much as the suspect was a director of a company, the company was actually used by his parents, who are also accused in this matter, so he did not benefit financially as a result because he was merely a scapegoat,” said Mpumalanga Hawks spokesperson Captain Magonseni Nkosi.
Warrants issued for absent accused
Two of the suspects, Consolation Mdluli and Mante Mabel Shogole, were not present in court and the magistrate was informed that they were ill. The court issued warrants of arrest for the absent suspects, which were stayed until the next court appearance.
The remaining 37 accused were instructed to return to court on December 1, allowing the defence time to study the disclosed docket, and their bail was extended.
Inflated school repair contracts
The Hawks in Mbombela arrested 40 suspects in just over a week from February 22 following investigations into allegations of fraud, corruption and money laundering, among other charges.
The accused, comprising multiple service providers and nine government officials, were arrested after investigations revealed that handpicked companies were allegedly appointed to repair schools at inflated prices, with some payments made despite no work having been done.
The suspects were arrested in Barberton, KaNyamazane, KaMagugu, Mataffin and Mbombela.
Magistrate Patrick Morris previously granted the suspects bail of between R5 000 and R50 000 with strict conditions, including that they attend all required court proceedings and not interfere with state witnesses.
Most of the accused have indicated their intention to plead not guilty to the charges.
