The Hawks have arrested a former Western Cape Sports School principal and a former school governing body (SGB) chairperson for alleged fraud and corruption to the tune of R3m.
Ex-acting principal of the troubled school Mogamat Shaheed Khan, 60, former governing-body chairperson James Ketelo, 52, teacher Bekezela Moyo, 50 and other former governing-body members Eric Peter Croy, 60, Saville Fledermaus, 61, Nadia Maymam, 51, and Lesel Bronwen Braaf, 49, appeared at the Bellville Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Friday.
The matter was postponed to September 7 2021 for the accused to appoint lawyers.
Their charges relate to a R3.1 million security service tender deal that the Kuils River school allegedly entered into with a company called Daring Security CC.
Provincial Hawks spokeswoman Zinzi Hani said that in November 2016, the school’s tender opening register recorded nine bidders for the tender.
Daring Security CC, allegedly represented by Mr Ketelo, who is also the chairman of the governing body, did not submit a tender, the Hawks say.
However, Ms Hani said, in December 2016 the governing body reviewed the tender register and it was discovered that Daring Security CC had been added to the register.
“(The) investigation revealed that none of the correct procedures were followed by the SGB members and the tender was awarded to the chairman of the SGB from January 2017 to December 2019.
“The company received payments of over R3.1 million for this period.”
Ms Hani said the seven were arrested by the Hawks between June and July.
They are facing charges of fraud, corruption, money laundering and contravention of the Public Finance Management Act.
Speaking to the Northern News, Mr Ketelo said he was shocked by the charges.
“There is a lot of things happening there (at the school),” Mr Ketelo said.
The school has been embroiled in bitter disputes over SGB positions and the principal’s post, prompting the Western Cape Education Department to disband the SGB and hold elections this year, but the winners were also disqualified by the provincial education department in 2018.
Despite this, it appears the SGB is still operational. Northern News has seen an email, dated July 26, from a school staff member calling for a special SGB meeting to be held on Thursday August 2.