Former Deputy Dean of Student Fees, Chris de Beer, has been arrested by the Hawks in connection to a R21 million fraud case.
Spokesperson of the Hawks Western Cape, Captain Philani Nkwalase, has confirmed that de Beer was served with a notice to appear in the Bellvile Specialised Commercial Crimes Court. De Beer is due to appear on Monday, 18 March 2019, on multiple charges of fraud as well as money laundering.
In 2012, Stellenbosch University fired de Beer after an investigation found that he and former Finance Director Jurie Roux had worked together to transfer R21 million from the University’s reserve funds to the Maties Rugby Club. It is alleged that the money was used to cover the expenses of rugby players, including Peter Grant, Juan de Jongh and Ernst Joubert.
On top of this, de Beer and Roux also face a R32 million civil claim from the University for damaged suffered through alleged fraudulent behaviour. The pair is due to appear in the Western cape High Court on Monday, 13 May 2019.
According to a report by audit firm KPMG, attached to a notice by the university lodged at the court in October 2017, Roux “misrepresented the university’s funds (including by, without evidence of authorisation, reallocating reserves of the university for expenditure), entered into unauthorised agreements on behalf of the university, did not act in the best interests of the university, and potentially benefitted personally from university funds.”
Abenathi Gqomo
a.gqomo@politicalanalysis.co.za
