Ted Ripinga is a Mpumalanga businessman who has been arrested and charged in connection with a R113 million alleged tender fraud involving funds meant for school repairs in the Mpumalanga Department of Education. He appeared in the Mbombela Magistrate’s Court as part of a larger group of suspects.
According to reporting:Ripinga is among 38 people (including current and former government officials and businesspeople) arrested by the Hawks (the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation) in a major tender fraud investigation.
The scandal involves about R113 million that was supposed to be used for repairing public schools in Mpumalang.
Prosecutors allege the scheme involved hand-picked service providers, inflated or unnecessary contracts, and money being diverted through companies linked to officials and associates.
While charges have been brought, Ripinga and the other accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court (a key part of South African law).
In court, state prosecutors criticised Ripinga for proposing a low bail amount (R20 000) despite the size of the alleged fraud and noted that funds meant for public schools were misused including allegedly funding private schooling.
Magistrate Patrick Morris granted him bail at R20 000.
The R113 million was allocated for repairs and maintenance at 21 schools between 2018 and 2019, but investigators say little or no work was done, and most of the money was unlawfully diverted.
Dozens of people have been arrested in connection with the matter, which is considered a major corruption and fraud prosecution in the province.
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