The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has obtained a preservation order to freeze a plot, a farm and three luxury properties valued at R53 million, one of which belongs to music legend Arthur Mafokate.
Th properties are linked to fraud and corruption at the National Lotteries Commission (NLC).
The National Prosecuting Authority’s Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) and the SIU have obtained a preservation order from the high court in Pretoria to freeze three luxury properties, a plot and portion of a farm linked to the alleged siphoning of lotteries grant funding.
SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said five non-profit organisations (NPOs) received grant funding of about R56.3 million for community development projects in South Africa. The NPOs are:
- Taung Cultural Music and Arts Expo;
- South African Art and Development Association (SAADA);
- Dynosys;
- Matieni Community Centre; and
- Zibsicraft (Pty) Ltd
The properties include Mafokate’s luxury property in Midrand, Johannesburg, with a sale value of R7.5 million as well as former NLC legal representative Lesley Ramulifho, whose property is in Cape Town.
Former Lotto boss Alfred Nevhutanda’s plot in Pretoria, former NLC board member William Huma’s farm in Rustenburg and NLC legal division head Tsietsi Maselwa’s luxury property in Pretoria will also be frozen.
“The SIU investigations revealed that the acquisition of the preserved properties was funded by the NPOs with money they had received, under the auspices of grant funding, from the NLC. The properties, therefore, constitute proceeds of unlawful activities hence the application for a preservation order pending the final determination of the application for final forfeiture,” Kganyago said.
SAADA linked to Mafokate, applied for grant funding to assist unemployed youth in the poor and rural areas of the country, to impact skills in music, business video, film production, dance and overall business of radio in SA.
The SIU investigation shows that SAADA applied for grant funding to the tune of R18 million back in 2013, but was approved for just over R9 million, which was paid over two trenches in 2014 and 2015.
Source: Sowetan Live, Times Live, Eyewitness News, IOL, image from Twitter: @JacaNews