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The Hawks dragged out several high-profile individuals this week.
Tiro Ramatlhatse, Gallo Images, Sowetan
- Two major corruption cases finally came to light this week.
- Thoshan Panday and Colonel Navin Madhoe appeared in court on Friday for fraud related to the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
- Additionally, seven political and commercial figures in the Free State appeared in connection with a R255 million asbestos tender.
Authorities have begun to act swiftly on suspected white-collar criminals as two long-standing corruption cases, one in KwaZulu-Natal and the other in the Free State, took center stage on Friday.
Durban businessman Thoshan Panday appeared in Durban Magistrates Court, along with Police Colonel Navin Madhoe, charged with corruption and fraud, worth some R47 million, in connection with the police accommodation for the 2010 World Cup.
In the Free State, seven defendants, including businessman Edwin Sodi, former Mangaung Mayor Sarah Mlamleli, former Free State Human Settlements HOD Nthimotse Mokhesi, John Matlakala, Seal Radebe, Abel Manyeki and Thabane Zulu, appeared in court. Bloemfontein Magistrates.
In a forceful move, the group’s bank accounts and seized assets were frozen to the tune of R300 million via a provisional restraining order from the Asset Forfeiture Unit in connection with the failed R255 Free State asbestos project. millions.
Assets included luxury sports cars.
They face more than 60 charges, including corruption, fraud and money laundering.
Not so untouchable
Charges related to Panday, who is known as a close affiliate of former President Jacob Zuma’s son Edward, began to advance last week when the Pietermaritzburg High Court dismissed an application he had filed.
READ ALSO | Thoshan Panday Co-Defendant to Face 261 Charges of Corruption and Fraud in SAPS Bidding Scandal
On Wednesday, September 30, the high court dismissed Panday’s request to review and overturn a 2017 decision by former National Director of Public Prosecution (NDPP) Shaun Abrahams to prosecute him, Madhoe and Captain Ashwin Narainpershad.
Madhoe and Narainpershad were employees of the South African Police Service (SAPS).
“Circus huh?” Panday said when appearing before a barrage of journalists and Justice Vanitha Armu on Friday.
Durban businessman Thoshan Panday and police officer Navin Madhoe.
Madhoe, through her attorney, Ravindra Manicklal, said she was eagerly awaiting her day in court to clear her name.
In another twist on Friday afternoon, the NPA said former KZN police commissioner Mmamonnye Ngobeni was on the run after she was to be arrested and appear in court in connection with the police tender.
Change
Both the Free State and KZN movements have been perceived as a movement toward arrests related to state capture.
News24 reported this week that high-profile ANC officials were expected to be among those on the radar of prosecutors and investigators.
READ | Mkhwebane ‘awaits’ convictions after arrests in Free State asbestos case
On the Free State asbestos matter, News24 reported that the contract was awarded by the Free State human settlements department and was intended to conduct a detailed audit of approximately 36,000 low-cost homes to identify which ones still have damaging asbestos roofs. .
News24 reported that the department illegally used a Treasury regulation that allows a government department to purchase goods or services from service providers already hired by another department.
The seven defendants in the controversial asbestos contract case sit in the dock in Bloemfontein High Court.
The potential ties in the project to former Free State Prime Minister Ace Magashule were first detailed by journalist Pieter-Louis Myburgh in Gangster State, his 2019 book.
Asbestos is still in the houses.
The contract was illegally awarded to a joint venture between Blackhead Consulting, owned by Sodi, and Diamond Hill Trading 71, owned by Igo Mpambani, who was shot and killed in Sandton in 2017.
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