On 26 February 2026, the Gauteng Division of the High Court, Johannesburg granted the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) a provisional restraint order in terms of section 26 of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act 121 of 1998 (POCA), following the arrest on 27 January 2026 of suspects linked to a global syndicate that allegedly operated bogus call centre agencies in Bryanston, Johannesburg.
In terms of the order, various assets registered in the names of the accused have been restrained, including multiple high-value immovable properties across Gauteng, some valued at over R3 million as well as movable assets such as a Mercedes-Benz A45S AMG, Aston Martin DB9, Volkswagen Golf 8 GTI, Toyota Fortuner, Jaguar E-Pace, Ford Ranger, Toyota Hilux, and other vehicles. The total estimated value of the restrained assets is approximately R43.9 million.
Yesterday, 14 April 2024, the sheriffs of the court, representatives of the AFU, members of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) and the appointed auctioneers visited the various addresses in Gauteng to execute the provisional restraint order. In accordance with the provisional restraint order, the auctioneers took possession of various motor vehicles to be kept in storage pending the finalisation of the criminal case and possible confiscation application.
According to the evidence, an international Israeli syndicate, operated the call centers from which they enticed unsuspecting members of the public, in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Canada, United States of America and various other countries abroad, to invest in non-existing products with promises of returns on their investments.
The call center agents employed by the syndicate would contact members of the public who reacted to false advertisements that were posted on the internet in what is commonly referred to as “click bait”. Evidence shows that the call center agents targeted vulnerable individuals, groomed them and knowingly misrepresented investment opportunities and returns.
National Prosecuting Authority Spokesperson
Kaizer Kganyago said the criminal case remains before the Palm Ridge Magistrates’ Court and has been postponed to 4 June 2026 for further investigation.
The AFU aims to ensure that benefits unlawfully derived from criminal acts are extracted and recovered in accordance with the objectives of the POCA. The effective partnership and collaborative efforts between the DPCI, the NPA’s Specialised Commercial Crime Unit (SCCU), and AFU have resulted in the restraint of assets linked to this multibillion-rand cybercrime syndicate. This outcome underscores the impact of coordinated action by government agencies working together in the pursuit of justice.