Thulisile Mapongwana
The National Prosecuting Authority has welcomed a court’s decision to dismiss an application to dismiss the criminal charges against 12 of the 15 people arrested in the ongoing probe into murders and attempted murders at Fort Hare University.
On Thursday, a Dimbaza magistrate dismissed the application for the matter to be struck off the roll.
Fifteen people were arrested over the Eastern weekend in various provinces in connection with the high-profile investigation.
They join ten other people, including former University staffers, who have already been arrested and charged in the matter.
The new accused are 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.
Two others, Sara Burger and Gosain van der Haar, were granted bail of R50 000 each, while former UFH staffer, Isaac Plaaitjies, abandoned his bid for bail.
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“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.,” said NPA regional spokesperson, Luxolo Tyali.
He said the total amount of money 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,” Tyali said.
He said Plaajties is charged in a separate matter, with nine people for the murder of UFH fleet manager, Petrus Roets, and the vice-chancellor’s bodyguard, Mboneli Vesele.
They are also charged with the attempted murder of the vice chancellor, Professor Sakhele Buhlungu and his deputy, Renuka Vithal, with a further charge of corruption.
All, but one, remain in custody after they were denied bail.
Tyali meanwhile said that the NPA will oppose the bail applications of the 12 new suspects charged in the matter, hinting that they plan to add more charges against them.
