The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) has rubbished what it described as false and defamatory statements made by former police minister Bheki Cele during the ad hoc committee hearings, alleging that alleged diamond dealer Louis Liebenberg funded the party.

MK Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela rubbished Cele’s allegations as “entirely baseless and malicious.”

“As a former Minister of Police, Mr Cele had both the authority and the responsibility to act on any such information if it were true.”

Ndhlela added that Cele’s failure to take action while in office “exposes these claims as nothing more than reckless political posturing intended to mislead the public.”

“The MK Party views Mr Cele’s conduct as a desperate attempt to score cheap political favour at the Ad Hoc Committee, and we strongly denounce his irresponsible and dishonest statements,” Ndhlela said.

Cele made the allegations during his appearance before the parliamentary committee, claiming that Liebenberg, whom he described as “a king of zama zamas” – had been funding the MK Party.

“There is a guy called LL – Louis Liebenberg. He’s a king of zama zamas. He cleans diamonds and everything. He has millions and millions. He funds the MK Party,” Cele said during the hearing on Thursday.

Cele further alleged that Liebenberg paid R500,000 for a private legal case linked to the party.

“He paid that money, and he has been arrested. He’s in prison as I speak. The MK Party has been in court supporting him every day when he goes to court,” Cele told the committee.

Last month, IOL News reported that the High Court in Pretoria granted the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) a final forfeiture order under Section 48 of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA).

The order related to R4 million, plus interest, held in a Standard Bank account under the name of ZencoCare (Pty) Ltd, linked to diamond dealer Liebenberg.

According to NPA spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana, ZencoCare forms part of the Forever Diamonds and Gold group of companies, with Liebenberg’s wife, Desiree Liebenberg, listed as its sole director.

“Both are implicated in an unlawful investment scheme that lured members of the public, locally and abroad, to invest in diamond parcels with the promise of lucrative, short-term returns. Investigations revealed that no such diamond parcels existed,” Mahanjana previously said.

She added that investor funds were misappropriated and used to pay earlier investors in a manner typical of a Ponzi-type scheme.

In 2024, ZencoCare facilitated a transfer of R5 million to attorneys, with R1 million allocated to Eskom for mining-related activities. 

The remaining R4 million, along with accrued interest, has since been forfeited to the state and will be paid into the Criminal Assets Recovery Account (CARA), which channels proceeds of crime into anti-corruption and law enforcement efforts.

The NPA hailed the court’s ruling as a “landmark achievement” in ensuring that the proceeds of criminal activity do not benefit perpetrators.

Louis and Desiree Liebenberg, along with seven co-accused, face charges of fraud, theft, racketeering, and money laundering. 

They are due to appear before the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrates’ Court on November 25. Both Louis and Desiree remain in custody, while their co-accused are out on bail.

simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za

IOL Politics

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