Update

GEORGE NEWS - Eight people who were arrested by the Hawks for fraud involving millions of rands - one of who is a former South Cape College CEO - will appear in the George Magistrate's Court again on Thursday 11 May after their arrests last week.

The theft to the amount R24m allegedly took place at South Cape TVET College between 2009 and 2014. Luvuyo Lennox Ngubelanga (55) was the CEO at that stage.

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 matter has been postponed for transfer to the George Regional Court date.

The state's case

In a statement released by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said 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.

Methods used included a cover quote, which is the manipulation of the three-quote system whereby other companies owned by other accused and suspects deliberately and conveniently under-quoted to ensure that the contracts were awarded to Inyameko.

The state accuses Ngubelanga and Dyabaza of pretending that the construction projects were urgent and approving them, failing to submit reasons for deviation to the institution's council. They also failed to state the reason why Inyameko was appointed or regarded as the preferred supplier.

"As a result, the accused, acting in concert, misrepresented to the Southern Cape TVET College and potential tenderers that a fair, equitable, transparent, competitive and cost-effective process was adhered to during the process of appointing a construction company for the 25 construction and related contracts," said Ntabazalila.

The state also alleges that Ngubeni and his company knew that the total payments of more than R24m by the institution were not acquired fairly and that the correct processes were not followed.

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