The High Court in Mbombela has issued a forfeiture order which empowers law enforcement officials to seize several assets which were acquired fraudulently through funds meant to fight the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
The Mpumalanga Department of Health lost millions of rand during the Covid-19 pandemic as an official working in a director’s office engaged in fraudulent activities.
The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks, said through the secretary’s fraudulent activities, the provincial department suffered a loss of almost R5 million in 2020.
“According to information, the secretary colluded with two service providers and allegedly faked the purchase and delivery of personal protective equipment (PPE). As a result, the service providers unlawfully benefitted from the products that were never delivered,” said Mpumalanga Hawks spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi.
After receiving the payments, it was established that the service providers purchased a residential property worth R1.5 million in Barberton. The house was registered in a company named Zanderson Establishment, with the sole director being the secretary’s daughter.
“The house was later sold for the same amount. Shortly thereafter, the family bought another residential house in Sunninghill, Johannesburg,” said Nkosi.
“The house was then registered in the company named SS Umoya under the former secretary’s name, Sanele Sanderson.”
After thorough investigations, the Hawks’ asset investigation unit in Mpumalanga successfully obtained a preservation order to forfeit the house and three vehicles.
Nkosi stated that the forfeited house is valued at R1.5 million, along with three vehicles owned by the two service providers. The forfeited vehicles include a Toyota Quantum, Hyundai light delivery vehicle, and a Volkswagen Golf. The vehicles have an estimated combined value of R1 million.
Meanwhile, provincial head of Hawks in Mpumalanga, Major General Nico Gerber said the Hawks will continue with the criminal investigation.
“Benefits derived from proceeds of crime, as is the case in this matter, will be traced , restrained, forfeited and sold to recoup the state’s losses. This is a clear example of law enforcement entities working in collaboration with one another,” said Gerber.
The asset forfeiture unit of the National Prosecuting Authority and the asset investigation section of the Hawks collaborated and ensured the successful forfeiture of the property.
“This must send a stern message that we will seize assets no matter how it is disguised, if they are bought through proceeds of crime. Crime must not pay,” said Gerber.
Provincial head of Hawks in Mpumalanga, Major General Nico Gerber said the Hawks will continue with the criminal investigation after the forfeiture of assets.
The operation was carried out in Mpumalanga by the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) of the National Prosecuting Authority, the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), and the Hawks.
The assets and properties are linked to 22 senior management officials, service providers, and entities involved in an alleged corruption network within the Mpumalanga Department of Public Works.
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