03/06/2026
(Scroll down for English)
Die bevindinge van die Spesiale Ondersoekeenheid (SOE) oor ongerymdhede in die Vrystaatse regering se beursskema, wys hoe endemies korrupsie en bedrog is in dié provinsie.
Dit is bloot nóg ’n hoofstuk van die lang lys skandale wat onder ANC-beheer in die Vrystaat plaasvind.
Die ANC is in werklikheid beskuldigde nommer een in hierdie saak. Indien die ouditeur-generaal (OG) nie die ongerymdhede uitgewys en die aangeleentheid vir ondersoek verwys het nie, sou daar waarskynlik geen optrede gewees het nie.
Die VF Plus verwelkom die SOE se deursigtige en deeglike ondersoek. Die ondersoek het onder meer bevind dat beurse aan familielede van amptenare toegeken is sonder om die voorgeskrewe prosesse te volg, onbevoegde persone en buitelandse burgers beurse ontvang het en sekere studente vir langer as die toegelate tydperk befonds is.
Die SOE het ook meer as R8,3 miljoen se onreëlmatige uitgawes en ernstige tekortkominge in die bestuur van die skema blootgelê.
Die ondersoek het reeds gelei tot 38 verwysings vir dissiplinêre optredes teen amptenare en die moontlike strafregtelike vervolging van sewe persone.
Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae, Vrystaat se premier, se skielike verwelkoming van die SOE se bevindinge is te min, te laat. Sy kan haar nie nou as kampvegter vir goeie bestuur voordoen terwyl hierdie ongerymdhede jare lank onder ANC-beheer plaasgevind het nie.
Die VF Plus sal die volgende stappe fyn dophou om te verseker dat daar teen skuldige persone opgetree word en verlore fondse herwin word.
Na 30 jaar van ANC-bewind kom die een skandaal ná die ander steeds aan die lig. Intussen sit inwoners daagliks sonder behoorlike dienslewering omdat korrupsie en kaderontplooiing vir die ANC belangriker as inwoners se belange is.
Dis ons tyd om die ANC se vernietigende greep op die Vrystaat te breek en korrupte kaders uit hul magsposisies te verwyder.
- Armand Cloete, VF Plus-LPW: Vrystaat
_______________
Free State bursary scandal reveals ANC’s deeply entrenched corruption
The findings of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) regarding irregularities in the Free State government’s bursary scheme demonstrate just how deeply entrenched corruption and fraud are in the province.
This is just another instalment in a series of scandals that played out under ANC rule in the Free State.
Truth be told, the ANC is accused number one in this matter. If the Auditor-General (AG) had not identified the irregularities and referred the matter for investigation, it is unlikely that any action would have been taken.
The Freedom Front Plus welcomes the SIU’s transparent and thorough investigation. Its findings indicated, among other things, that bursaries were awarded to relatives of officials without following prescribed procedures, that ineligible individuals and foreign nationals received bursaries, and that certain students received funding for longer than the permitted period.
The SIU also uncovered more than R8,3 million in irregular expenditure as well as serious shortcomings in the scheme's administration.
The investigation has already resulted in 38 referrals for disciplinary action against officials and the possible criminal prosecution of seven individuals.
The sudden endorsement of the SIU’s findings by the Free State Premier, Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae, is too little, too late. She cannot pretend to be an advocate for sound governance now, seeing as these irregularities occurred over a number of years under ANC rule.
The Freedom Front Plus will keep a close eye on the next steps to ensure that appropriate action is taken against the guilty parties and that the funds are recovered.
After 30 years of ANC rule, one scandal after another continues to come to light. Meanwhile, South Africans endure poor service delivery because corruption and cadre deployment are more important to the ANC than promoting the people's interests.
It is time for the Free State to break free from the ANC's stranglehold and oust corrupt cadres from positions of power.
- Armand Cloete, Freedom Front Plus MPL: Free State
https://www.vfplus.org.za/af/mediaverklarings/vrystaat-se-beursskandaal-bevestig-die-anc-se-diepgewortelde-korrupsie/
