R130 Million School Scam: Four Accused Granted Bail as 33 Appear in Nelspruit Court

A massive fraud case involving the alleged siphoning of R130 million from Mpumalanga’s education department took a significant step forward on Sunday, as 33 accusedincluding government officials and private service providersappeared in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court .

The group faces charges of fraud, money laundering, and corruption following a lengthy investigation by the Hawks into inflated tenders for school repairs in rural areas .

The Accused and Their Bail Conditions

The court proceedings began with the case of Consolation Mdluli, a service provider who is wheelchair-bound. She was granted bail of R5,000 .

Four other suspects were each granted bail of R50,000:

• Absolom Thela, a former acting chief financial officer in the department

• Palesa Thela, his daughter

• Nono Maribe, a former senior department official

• Ruth Khoza, a service provider

The state had demanded the R50,000 bail amount, which the magistrate granted in these cases .

The remaining suspects remain in custody at the Nelspruit Police Station and are expected to appear in court on Monday, 24 February, joined by three additional suspects arrested on the day of the hearings .

All accused who were granted bail are expected to make their next court appearance on 26 March .

The Scheme

The case dates back to 2020, when a fraud case was first opened in Mpumalanga . The investigation revealed an alleged conspiracy between department officials and contractors to exploit emergency repair and maintenance programmes .

It is alleged that officials actioned emergency repairs and maintenance on 21 schools in rural areas and approved tenders that were highly inflated .

The accused contractors and officials allegedly worked together to siphon funds, with investigations indicating that R130 million was distributed through money-laundering activities .

The Impact

The scheme defrauded not only the fiscus but also the communities these schools were meant to serve. Rural schools, often already under-resourced, were allegedly used as vehicles for fraud, with emergency repairs either not done or done at vastly inflated costs .

The case represents one of the largest fraud investigations in the province’s education sector, and the sheer number of accusednow at least 36underscores the scale of the alleged conspiracy .

@lowvelderTwenty-eight people were remanded in custody, while four were granted bail of R50 000 each, and one wheelchair-bound person was granted bail of R5 000, following their appearance in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court. They are charged with fraud, corruption, and money laundering involving more than R100m.

♬ original sound – Lowveld Media

What’s Next

With bail granted to only a handful of suspects, the majority will remain in custody as investigations continue. The March court date will likely see further details emerge about the alleged roles of each accused and the full extent of the financial losses .

For the people of Mpumalanga, the case is a stark reminder of how funds meant for children’s education can be diverted into private pockets. For the Hawks, it’s a significant step in holding alleged fraudsters accountable. And for the accused, the legal battle is just beginning.

{Source: Citizen.co.za}

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