The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has obtained a preservation order from the Special Tribunal to freeze immovable property following a sweeping investigation into the alleged looting of National Lotteries Commission (NLC) funds earmarked for the construction of old age homes.

The order forms part of a broader crackdown on a complex web of corruption involving the hijacking of Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs), fabricated grant applications, and the diversion of public funds into private hands.

SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said the probe centred around three NPOs, Matieni Community Centre, Lethabong Old Age Home, and War Against Rape and Abuse (WAR RNA), which collectively received over R66 million in lottery grants “under false pretences.”

One of the central entities in the scheme is Matieni Community Centre, a defunct organisation that was allegedly fraudulently revived to secure funding from the NLC.

“The original members of Matieni Community Centre were unaware of the application, and the individuals listed on the NLC application were not legitimate members,” said Kganyago.

Lethabong and WAR RNA were similarly compromised, with falsified documentation submitted by individuals who had no legal standing in the organisations.

The SIU’s findings paint a damning picture of how the R66 million in public funds were misused. Matieni alone received R23 million from the NLC. Of this, R5.975 million was transferred to the Mbidzo Development Programme, an entity linked to Collin Tshisimba, already implicated in other NLC fraud cases.

A further R6.2 million was paid to Wa Rothe Construction.

Lethabong Old Age Home secured R20 million, with R15 million allegedly funneled into Mbidzo’s account. WAR RNA also received R20 million, with R5 million redirected to Mbidzo.

The investigation uncovered that Mbidzo, under Tshisimba’s control, used the funds to pay attorneys for the purchase of a farm in Louis Trichardt, Limpopo. The property was registered under Promise Kharivhe, Tshisimba’s life partner.

“The order of the Special Tribunal is part of implementing SIU investigation outcomes and consequence management to recover financial losses suffered by State institutions because of corruption or negligence,” Kganyago said.

The preservation order is one of several legal remedies the SIU is pursuing under its statutory mandate.

“The SIU is empowered to institute a civil action in the High Court or a Special Tribunal to correct any wrongdoing uncovered during investigations caused by corruption, fraud, or maladministration,” Kganyago said.

The SIU confirmed that any evidence pointing to criminal conduct has been referred to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for further action, in accordance with the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act 74 of 1996.

IOL News

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