CONDITION: Daycare centres and football clubs in KZN were approached to apply for grant funding and immediately after receiving funding, they would transfer large sums to suspects…

By Own Correspondent

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has been granted a preservation order by the Special Tribunal to freeze approximately R2.4 million held in four bank accounts linked to a KwaZulu-Natal National Lotteries Commission’s (NLC) official and his wife.

According to the SIU statement, the money was paid into the accounts by non-profit organisations that received funding from the NLC to improve the conditions of ordinary South Africans, but made its way into the bank accounts for self-enrichment.

“An investigation by the SIU into the affairs of the NLC revealed that [Sibonelo] Vilakazi approached daycare centres and football clubs in KZN to apply for grant funding. Immediately after receiving funding, football clubs and care centres would transfer large sums of money into 05 ZZET ENTERPRISES (PTY) LTD’s bank account and those linked to Zuma and Vilakazi.

“A report by the Financial Intelligence Centre states that 05 ZZET Enterprises received multiple electronic fund transfer payments from several care centres and football clubs of approximately R 32 259 707. SIU investigations show that more than 400 care centres and football clubs made payments to accounts linked to Vilakazi and Zuma from money received from the NLC between 2019 and 2023,” SIU spokesperson, Kaizer Kganyago said.

In terms of the order dated 13 September 2023, the suspended NLC official Sibonelo Vilakazi, his wife Nosipho Zanele Zuma and 05 ZZET ENTERPRISES (PTY) LTD, solely owned by Zuma, are prohibited from dealing in any manner with funds held in the frozen bank accounts.

“In August 2023, the Tribunal granted a similar order pending the intervention application by the SIU in a matter brought by Zuma against First National Bank (FNB) before the High Court of South Africa: Kwa-Zulu Natal Local Division, Durban, and the subsequent conclusion of the main application to be brought by the SIU in the Special Tribunal.

“The bank had frozen Zuma’s bank accounts through its own processes. The High Court granted the order in favour of Zuma [and] as a result, the SIU approached the Special Tribunal to vary the order so that it was not dependent on any other court process,” Kganyago said.

The SIU was, in terms of Proclamation R32 of 2020, authorised by President Cyril Ramaphosa to investigate allegations of corruption and maladministration in the affairs of NLC and the conduct of NLC officials and to recover any financial losses suffered by the State.

The SIU has been granted a preservation order to freeze approximately R2.4 million, pending the final determination of a civil action to be brought by the Unit within 60 days. – SAnews.gov.za

COPS SWOOP ON ‘INSURANCE FRAUD HITMEN’

SCAM: At least 11 innocent victims lost their lives after being insured for thousands of rand and allegedly executed by the same gang…

By WSAM Reporter

Seven suspects allegedly involved in at least 11 hit murders linked to a sinister  insurance payout racket were arrested in the Eastern Cape during the early hours of this morning.

Provincial Commissioner Lt Gen Nomthetheleli Mene lauded “the exceptional work of dedicated police investigators” who pursued justice in a case relating to the deadly insurance scam.

The arrests followed an operation by a multi-disciplinary team who raided the residences of the six suspects in Kwanobuhle and Despatch in Queenstown and Cradock. The suspects were wanted in connection with several murder and fraud cases, in which the targeted victims were first insured and bumped off later to claim insurance payouts.

Their arrests were made after more than 10 months of intense investigations by the Queenstown Murder & Robbery and Cradock Commercial Crimes Investigation unit, which linked the syndicate to numerous hit killings in Kwadwesi, Kwanobuhle, Despatch, Whittlesea and Kamesh. All were connected to these cases through ballistic linkages to the murders.

The seventh suspect is at St Albans Prison awaiting trial for a possession of firearm case will also be charged with the other six suspects.

During the arrests, the team consisting of Murder & Robbery from Queenstown; Commercial Crimes Unit from Cradock, Uitenhage and Gqeberha; Provincial Anti-Gang Unit in Gqeberha; Public Order Police in Gqeberha; SAPS Kwanobuhle and Despatch detectives also confiscated a firearm, three magazines, 95 live rounds of ammunition and two cellphones.

The suspects, aged between 40 and 52, face charges of at least 11 murder cases, of which two are double murder cases in Kwanobuhle, racketeering and fraud relating to the several claims that were submitted for 11 deceased as well as illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. They will appear in the Kariega magistrate’s court on Monday.

Lauding the arrests Lt Gen Mene “These arrests are a testament to the unwavering commitment and professionalism of our law enforcement officers who worked diligently to bring these perpetrators to book.

Their dedication has not only removed a dangerous threat from our streets but also sends a clear message that crime will not go unpunished.

However, it must be noted that this breakthrough would not have been possible without the outstanding collaboration between our investigators, the National Prosecuting Authority and our partners

beginning of our fight against organised crime and I am convinced that it will open doors for more arrests, dismantling criminal networks that threaten our communities”.