BLOEMFONTEIN – The Bloemfontein Hawks Serious Corruption Investigation detectives have arrested a young male civilian posing as an official at the Mangaung Metro to allegedly scam students through a fake bursary scheme. The suspect Vuyani Gibson Mpasie (27) has been remanded in custody with his matter postponed to 16 February for a bail application.
He appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court on – Thursday, 12 February, following his arrest on a day after. Mpasie’s arrest was the culmination of an investigation launched after the elite crime-fighting wing received information in earlier this month. He is charged with corruption and extortion.
Lt Col. Zweli Mohobeleli, provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, said Bloemfontein Hawks detectives received information about a man posing as an official, allegedly to scam students through a fake bursary scheme. “He reportedly introduced himself as an official of Mangaung Metro, promising to facilitate the approval of bursary applications for a fee. This information was operationalised, culminating in the suspect’s arrest,” said Mohobeleli.
Major General Mokgadi Bokaba, the provincial head of the Hawks in the Free State, has strongly warned students not to fall prey to scammers. “Government bursaries are not for sale.”
The Hawks in Bloemfontein are appealing to anyone who might have fallen victim to the scam to contact a Hawks investigative detective on 082 584 4043.
