Retired UFH Employee and Son Charged with Fraud Amidst University Corruption Scandal

A retired employee of South Africa's prestigious University of Fort Hare (UFH), Thobeka Portia Heshula, aged 68, has entered the eye of a corruption storm that has embroiled the university in recent years. Thobeka, along with her son Ngwengo Collin Uhuru Heshula, 41, were charged with multiple counts of fraud, forgery, and uttering. They came under scrutiny after an internal university investigation revealed that tenders amounting to R1.5 million had been improperly awarded to a company linked to her son for work that was never executed.

The Heshula duo stood before the magistrate at the Alice Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, facing serious allegations of deliberately manipulating the tender system to their advantage. The Heshulas were each released on R1,000 bail as the case was escalated to the East London Specialised Commercial Crimes Court, with proceedings set for 12 March 2024.

Serving as a residence operations manager before her retirement, Thobeka Heshula was entrusted with the responsibility of selecting service providers and greenlighting their payments. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) contends that Thobeka exploited her position by facilitating the appointment of her son’s business, Heshula Solutions CC, or related entities as favoured service providers by generating fake quotations. These deceptive quotations gave the illusion of competitive bidding from three distinct sources, but in reality, were designed to tilt the scales in favor of her son's company.

Furthermore, Thobeka is accused of signing off on invoices for services that were never delivered to the university. This malpractice allegedly took place between July 2013 and March 2019, as per the NPA's court documents.

The unfolding scandal at the University of Fort Hare has been rife with controversy, including a murderous power struggle tied to tender fraud, fraudulent degree scandals, and more. These issues attracted wide attention in August 2022 when President Cyril Ramaphosa sanctioned the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to probe the alleged corruption and mismanagement at UFH. The investigation's focus has been on four specific tender contracts and irregularities concerning the awarding of postgraduate degrees.

In a more sinister twist to events, the university grappled with violent crimes when its fleet manager, Petrus Roets, and the bodyguard to vice-chancellor Sakhela Buhlungu, Mbonise Vesele, were victims of fatal shootings. These heinous acts led to widespread fear among staff, with other officials, including Buhlungu himself, evading similar assassination attempts.

Amidst these turbulent events, a special task team set up by the national police in Pretoria took into custody Isaac Plaatjies, the university’s director of investigations and vetting services, on 17 November 2023. Plaatjies and the nine other apprehended suspects are slated to appear before the Bhisho High Court on 8 October 2024 to face charges that include two counts of murder, attempted murder, and additional counts of fraud for some.

The allegations against Thobeka Heshula and her son contribute to the narrative of malfeasance running deep within the University of Fort Hare. As more details emerge and legal processes unfold, the university community and the public await justice and resolution to restore trust in this historically significant South African institution.