DR Congo defrauds government using S African SOE

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The NPA’s Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) has managed to secure a preservation order of properties and bank accounts amounting to over R 43 million.

The order is to preserve four properties and two bank accounts belonging to Brigadier Ngoy Timothee Makwamba, who was assigned by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as a Defence Attache’ to South Africa.

A criminal case of fraud and theft was opened by the DRC against Brigadier Ngoy whom one of the duties assigned to him by the Ministry of Defence of the DRC was to purchase weapons from the Denel Group, a state-owned, commercially driven company and strategic partner for innovative defence, security and related technology solutions in South Africa. 

It is said that the DRC embassy then made a payment of R49,6 million to the Denel group. However, the Denel Group could not process the order and arranged to pay back the money to the DRC embassy.

Ngoy’s mandate to represent DRC on the matter was terminated on December 2022, he however, continued to fraudulently present himself to Denel as the representative.

“He was still a signatory of the Defence account of the DRC and had the authority to instruct them on where to make the refund payment. Brigadier Ngoy then provided the Denel Group with bank account details belonging to Johan van Heerden Attorneys where the Denel Group paid the refund of R49.6 million on 13 April 2023.”

NPA spokesperson Lumka Mahanajana added that once the funds were received by van Heerden Aatorneys, they were transferred to bank accounts registered under Ngoy and his children’s names, Milleno Timothee Ngoy and Ngoie Glo-Glo Gloria and other persons from the DRC.

List of properties and bank accounts preserved.

• Nedbank account number 1129721604 in the name of The Defence Office of the Democratic Republic of Congo Embassy (there is R35 000 000.00 frozen as per the preservation order in this account).

• Nedbank Investment account number 690771369996 also in the name of The Defence Office Democratic Republic Congo Embassy (there is R224 765.38 frozen as per the preservation order in this account).

• Property known as 26 Beverley Hill Crescent, Centurion Golf Estate, Gauteng Province, and held in the name of Ngoy Timothee Makwamba.

• Property known as The Falcons situated at Eastwood 2, Erf 3 Kilberry, Pretoria, Gauteng Province and held in the names of Ngoy Timothee Makwamba, Milleno Timothee Ngoy, and Ngoie Glo-Glo Gloria.

• ERF 408, Northcliff extension 2 Township, also known as 227 Acacia Road, Northcliff, Johannesburg, Gauteng Province and registered in the name of Bokomo Bokondo; and

• Unit 2, Hokaai Sectional Scheme, 786 Arcadia Street, Pretoria, Gauteng Province registered in the names of Mr. Eustache Monga and Ms. Nkulu Julie Kilumba.