GEORGE NEWS - A ninth suspect has been arrested in the South Cape TVET College fraud case. Zukiswa Monica Ziqu (54), who was the chief financial officer (CFO) at the college, briefly appeared in the George Magistrate’s court on Thursday 11 May in connection with fraud involving millions of rands.
She was arrested the previous day and released on R5 000 bail. Eight people who were allegedly involved were arrested in April, including the CEO during that time, Luvuyo Lennox Ngubelanga (55).
The theft to the amount R24m allegedly took place between 2009 and 2014.
The Hawks and Pops closed in on the eight on Wednesday 12 April. They made their first court appearance the following day where they were all released on bail separately.
Ngubelanga was released on R10 000 bail, Elliot Dyabaza (51) on R3 000 bail, Prudence Dingiswayo (46) on R2 000, Patrick Mcedisi Mbebe (57) on R5 000, Pieter Johannes Sam (52) on R5 000, Andreas Khulekani Ngubeni (53) on R5 000, Nomathamsanqa Maude Msizi (39) on R3 000 and Shadrack Njozela (60) on R3 000 bail.
The arrested include education officials and people from the private sector. They face charges of corruption, fraud and alternatively theft.
The state's case
The state alleges that in the abovementioned time frame, Ngubeni's construction company, Inyameko Building Construction, was requested to submit 25 quotations for construction and related alterations across all South Cape College TVET campuses.
Ngubelanga, Dyabaza, Dingiswayo, Mbebe and Sam approved quotations submitted by the construction company, although there were no supporting documents in the form of a valid tax number, construction industrial development board certificate, or declarations form.
The appointment of the construction company led to the exclusion of other competitors.
The state further alleges that the accused colluded to ensure that the 25 construction contracts were guaranteed for Inyameko.
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