MAN ACCUSED OF DEFRAUDING UFS MORE THAN R1.5M RELEASED ON BAIL

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By: Neo Ntsele

Motlatsi Nelson Khalane, 31, made his first court appearance before the Phuthaditjhaba Magistrate Court on Tuesday, 14, where he was granted R5 000 bail after being charged with fraud.

Khalane's court appearance follows his arrest by the Bethlehem-based Hawks' Serious Commercial Crime Investigation on 13 (Mon) October.

It is alleged that Khalane, through his company, applied to the University of the Free State (UFS), Qwa-Qwa Campus, to be considered for the provision of student accommodation.

In his application, he claimed to have 215 rooms available to accommodate students.

The application was approved, and funds were subsequently paid into his company's business account between January 2023 and December 2024.

During the verification process, the university discovered that the two stands provided in the application stood empty with no rooms built.

As a result, UFS suffered a financial loss of more than R1.5 million.

Khalane is expected to appear before the Bethlehem Commercial Crimes Court on 11 December 2025.