Three individuals in South Africa have recently been granted bail after being accused of defrauding a bursary scheme for university students.
The trio, Fidelis Moema, Lebogang Sigubundu, and Trevor Machimana, were arrested on allegations of siphoning more than 16 million rand from the finance company KPMG into private bank accounts.
The Palm Ridge Magistrate’s court in Johannesburg set bail at 50,000 rand each for the accused individuals. It is reported that the three men allegedly collaborated on the fraudulent activities between October 2019 and 2022. While they have expressed their intention to plead not guilty, they have not formally entered a plea yet.
One of the accused, Fidelis Moema, has a professional background in human resources at Ford Motors and has also served as a brand ambassador for various businesses including Woolworths. Mr. Moema’s involvement in the fraud was brought to light following disciplinary proceedings at KPMG.
The case is scheduled to continue on 24 May, where state prosecutors have hinted at presenting more witnesses. Evidence thus far has been provided by Mr. Moema’s ex-girlfriends, according to the National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson, Phindi Mjonondwane.
“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,” Mjonondwane stated.
The trio’s alleged fraudulent activities have raised concerns about the misuse of funds intended for students, highlighting the importance of accountability and transparency in financial transactions. Stay tuned for updates on this ongoing case as more details emerge.
