A Free State man has appeared in the Bloemfontein District Court on charges of corruption and extortion while disguising himself as a Mangaung Metro official.
Vuyani Gibson Mpasie, 27, made a brief appearance and allegedly posed as a fake scholarship donor for a fee.
The grants he claimed to influence were government grants.
Mpasie was arrested by members of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (known as Hawks).
Hawks provincial spokesperson Lt. Col. Zweli Mohobeleli said investigators from the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation received information about a man who identified himself as a Mangaung Metro official on Feb. 5.
“He promised to facilitate the approval of scholarship applications for a fee. This information was operationalized and culminated in the arrest of the suspect on February 11, 2026,” Mohobeleli said.
The Hawks have urged members of the public who may have fallen prey to this scam to come forward.
“We are appealing to anyone who may have fallen victim to the scam to call Hawks detectives on 082 584 4043,” Mohobeleli said.
The provincial head of the Hawks, Major General Mokgadi Bokaba, has expressed concern over this particular crime, warning sternly: “Government grants were not for sale”.
The suspect, Mpasie, is expected back in court on Monday, February 16 for a bail application.
IOL
Robin-Lee Francke
iol.co.za