Supra’s son bursary unlawful

State-owned arms company Denel has admitted that a R1 million pilot’s training bursary awarded to the son of former North West premier Supra Mahumapelo is unlawful.

Mahumapelo’s son, Oarabile, was awarded an R1.1 million bursary to study at a prestigious aviation school in Port Alfred, the Eastern Cape.

The aerospace and defence technology parastatal told parliament’s portfolio committee on public enterprises yesterday that the bursary had been cancelled and that it would reserve its right to recuperate the funds. It was reported that an investigation revealed the aviation school had not been approved for study according to Denel’s bursary policy.

Denel board member Talib Sadik said the bursary had not been advertised as per policy requirements.

“As a result of that, we have terminated the bursary policy,” said Sadik.

Denel had previously said the awarding of the bursary to Oarabile had not been in contravention of the company’s policy.

Following the revelations that Mahumapelo’s son had been awarded the bursary by Denel, the Democratic Alliance laid charges of corruption and fraud against the former premier and Denel chief executive Zwelakhe Ntshepe, who has since stepped down from the position.

An investigation revealed the aviation school had not been approved for study according to Denel’s bursary policy.