Businessman Dr Raymond Patel is the latest person to be arrested in connection with fraud and corruption allegations at the University of Fort Hare in the Eastern Cape.
Patel, 64, appeared in the Dikeni (formerly Alice) Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said Patel who is charged with fraud and corruption was released on R50,000 bail.
NPA spokesperson Luxolo Tyali said Patel was arrested over the weekend.
Patel, a service provider, is alleged to have been awarded a R3.6 million tender and paid R1.6 million kickbacks to university employees, the NPA said.
His co-accused include Issac Plaatjies, Sarga Burger, Gosain van der Haar, Anna Smith, Paul Tladi, Lucrecia Davids, Mbulelo Gingcana, Nkateko Mawila, Nozuko Mabombo, Thamsanqa Sonjica, Craig Retief, Bradley Conradie, Terrence Joubert, Anwa Khan and Nthabiseng Makhoba.
The accused, nine of whom were UFH employees, and the rest being service providers and their companies, 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,” said Tyali.
Plaatjies, the University of Fort Hare’s (UFH) Director of Investigations and Vetting, was denied bail in December last year.
Plaatjies, 56, is one of 10 accused of the murder of Petrus Roets, UFH fleet manager, and the university’s vice-chancellor's bodyguard, Richard Vesele.
In August 2022, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed a proclamation for the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) to launch an investigation into four contracts and the awarding of Honours degrees at the University of Fort Hare.
“These include contacts for cleaning and gardening services, the leasing of student accommodation tender, the appointment of service provider for the maintenance and repair of air conditioning systems, and collusion between officials of the university and service providers, in which such officials held direct or indirect interests.“
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