South African Trio Granted Bail in University Bursary Fraud Scandal

Johannesburg, South Africa — Three men accused of defrauding a university bursary scheme out of more than 16 million rand ($863,000, £693,000) have been granted bail by the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court in Johannesburg.

The suspects, Fidelis Moema, Lebogang Sigubundu, and Trevor Machimana, were arrested last month following allegations that they illegally transferred funds from the finance company KPMG to private bank accounts.

The court has set the bail at 50,000 rand each for the accused, who are alleged to have collaborated in this scheme from October 2019 through 2022. Despite the serious accusations, all three men are reported to be planning to plead not guilty and have yet to enter a formal plea.

Details from the case reveal that Fidelis Moema, a 32-year-old former human resources worker at Ford Motors and brand ambassador for several companies including Woolworths, was reported to the police following disciplinary proceedings at KPMG. This incident has raised questions about the oversight and management of corporate funds, particularly those intended for educational support.

The prosecution, led by the National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane, has indicated that the evidence against the trio primarily stems from testimonies provided by Moema’s ex-girlfriends.

Mjonondwane also hinted that the number of individuals involved might increase as the investigation progresses, stating, "The number of people we are looking at might increase. We prefer to wait for the right moment. When we are at the stage to disclose our docket, we will be able to tell how many people have been added to the case."

The case is scheduled to continue on May 24, where state prosecutors are expected to present additional witnesses. This ongoing investigation highlights the challenges of managing and safeguarding funds allocated for educational purposes and the importance of maintaining stringent financial controls within corporate and academic funding programs.