Sarah Burger walks free as the state withdraws charges in the Fort Hare R171m fraud case after a dramatic arrest during the Easter holidays of 2024. Image: News24.
(The Post News)– The state has dropped charges against Sarah Burger, a Cape Town-based forensic lawyer.
Burger appeared at the East London Specialised Commercial Crimes Court alongside Isaac Plaatjies, Paul Tladi, Lucrecia Davids, Anna Smith, Mbulelo Gingcana, Nozuko Mabombo, Thamsanqa Sonjica, Gosain van Haar, Terrence Joubert, Bradley Conradie, Craig Retief, Anwar Khan, Nthabiseng Makhoba, Justin King, and Raymond Patel. They were facing charges of fraud, corruption, money laundering, and theft.
It is alleged that the group defrauded the University of Fort Hare of R171 million. Burger and Conradie were hired by the university’s vice-chancellor, Professor Sakhela Buhlungu, in 2018 to investigate widespread corruption at the institution. They were arrested in April 2024 and granted bail, except for Isaac Plaatjies, who remains in custody.
Speaking to eNCA, an emotional Burger said she was relieved that justice had prevailed in her case, but she remains determined to prove Conradie’s innocence. Burger said she and her family had suffered over the past 17 months—both personally and professionally—as a result of the case. She lost clients, was discredited and embarrassed, and saw all the cases she had worked on with the Hawks and the Special Commercial Crimes Unit fall apart.
She described the experience as devastating and believes her career as a forensic investigator is likely irreparably damaged. She believes that she can no longer testify in any of her past cases, notably in the case of the University of Fort Hare, which she has slaved away on for four years. She now places her hopes on the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to take those matters forward.
Determined to prove her business partner’s innocence, Burger was asked to comment on reports suggesting that Conradie had made an R1 million down payment on a house for Plaatjies; she asserted that she cannot comment on that; however, she believes Bradley is not guilty.
She also vowed to pursue accountability for those she believes are responsible for the ordeal her family and Conradie’s family have endured. Moreover, she said that the impact on their businesses, lives, and families is irreversible, and they will hold those responsible accountable for their actions.
The state has requested that separate trials be heard. Magistrate Sadia Jacobs postponed the matter to 9 October 2025 for pre-trial proceedings.
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