Mpumalanga School Repairs Scandal: Businessman Accused of Stealing Funds & Sending Kids to Private School | R113m Fraud

Mbombela, Mpumalanga – A Mpumalanga businessman at the center of a R113 million school repairs scandal has been accused of hypocrisy after it emerged he sends his own children to a private school while allegedly defrauding funds intended for public education.

Ted Ripinga is one of 38 individuals – including 10 current and former government officials – arrested by the Hawks between Sunday and Tuesday in connection with the alleged fraudulent awarding of the tender. The group appeared in the Mbombela Magistrate’s Court this week to apply for bail.

During bail proceedings, prosecutor advocate Prenisha Jagganath sharply criticized Ripinga’s actions, highlighting the disparity between his alleged theft of public funds and his personal choices regarding his children’s education. “Your worship, the amount involved in this case is R113m, and as the state we plead with the court to grant higher bail money so that the accused would not be able to forfeit it to the state,” Jagganath argued.

She continued, directly addressing Ripinga’s affidavit, “For example, in his affidavit, Mr Ted Ripinga tells the court that he can pay bail of R20,000, where we are dealing with money that was meant for public school children, and he tells the court that his children are attending private school at Curro. So [Mr Ted Ripinga] steals from public school [funds] and sends his children to private school.” Jagganath’s statement underscored the state’s contention that Ripinga poses a flight risk and should be subject to a substantial bail amount.

Despite the prosecution’s arguments, magistrate Patrick Morris granted Ripinga bail of R20,000. Other individuals granted bail include Jabulani Nkosi, chief director for human resources at the Mpumalanga department of health; Velamina Matsi-Seregile, director of construction and project management in the national department of public works in Pretoria; businessman Luka Mhlabane, who was granted R20,000 bail; and his son, Lulama, a student, who was granted R5,000 bail.

As of Wednesday, February 25, 2026, only 15 of the 38 accused have been granted bail, leaving the majority in custody pending further legal proceedings.

The Hawks investigation alleges that officials colluded to handpick companies to carry out school repairs at inflated prices. In some instances, payments were reportedly made despite no work being completed, with the funds then diverted to the accounts of relatives or the officials themselves. The scandal centers around a tender for “emergency school repairs” and has sparked outrage among parents and educators in the region.

The case is ongoing, and further details are expected to emerge as the legal process unfolds. The alleged fraud has raised serious questions about accountability and transparency within the Mpumalanga government and the potential impact on the quality of education for public school students.