Arthur Mafokate linked to National Lottery Commission R 56 million funding fraud

January 13, 2023 Page3 Reporter

Estimated reading time: 8 minute(s)

Photo: Google

As the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) continues to uncover alleged fraud and corruption that has been going in the National Lottery Commission (NLC) for years, several high profile people in the country are spared.

Former COO Philemon Letwaba is one of the executives who has been reported for allegedly taking part in the fraud and corruption that had been going on in the organization.

Spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said AFU and SIU have obtained a preservation order from the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division, Pretoria, to freeze three luxury properties, a plot, and a portion of a farm that are linked to the siphoning of lotteries grant funding meant for community development projects.

Kganyago said that their investigations in the affairs of the NLC revealed that five non-profit organisations (NPO) received grant funding of approximately 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), Dinosys, Matieni Community Centre, and Zibsicraft (Pty) Ltd.

SAADA is said to be linked to Kwaito legend Arthur Mafokate.

Kganyago said that SAADA is linked to Mafokate because it is under his directorship.

They applied for funding to impart skills in music, business, video, film production, dance, and the business of radio in South Africa for the unemployed youth in the poor rural areas.

“Dinosys applied to the NLC for grant funding to assist with social hygiene in the Eastern Cape. Matieni Community Centre applied for grant funding for home-based care in Mpumalanga Province.”

Also Read Social Development fund meant for women empowerment bought luxury cars, properties and Rolex watch

“Zibsicraft applied for grant funding for the purpose of community development in the Northern Cape. Taung Cultural Music and Arts Expo applied for grant funding to the NLC for the purpose of building a museum and library in Kuruman, Northern Cape.”

Kganyago said that the investigations revealed that the said properties were acquired with the said money funded to the NPOs instead of funding projects they were meant for.

The said luxury properties are said to be in Midrand, Cape Town and Pretoria, as well as a portion of a farm in Rustenburg and a plot in Pretoria.

The properties are prohibited and restrained from being sold, disposed of, leased, transferred, donated, or dealt with in any manner whatsoever with respect to the immovable properties.

This time around several other executives in the NLC were included in the investigation which includes former NLC Board chairman Alfred Nevhutanda and his wife Tshilidzi Nevhutanda who’s properrties are also frozen. Ramulifho Family Trust represented by Lesley Ramulifho who is Former NLC legal representative and Trustee.