The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has obtained a preservation order from the Special Tribunal against two properties linked to funds allocated by the National Lotteries Commission (NLC) to the Malusi We Sizwe Non-Profit Company (NPC).
The properties are located in The Orchards and Soshanguve in Pretoria, Gauteng.
The preservation order relates to a R13 million grant approved by the NLC in November 2018 for an agricultural project in the Zululand District Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal.
The project was intended to benefit approximately 1,900 people, including unemployed youth and elderly community members.
The preservation orders follow an SIU investigation, which revealed that on 14 September 2018, former NLC Grant Manager Marubini Ramatsekisa submitted an internal proposal for “proactive funding” for the project.
This proposal was approved on the same day by former NLC Chief Operating Officer Philemon Letwaba.On 3 October 2018, Malusi We Sizwe NPC applied for funding of R14,976,796.
At the time, Sinqobile Khumalo, Margaret Sithole, and Lawrence Malungwa were listed as directors of the organisation.
The NLC Adjudication Committee approved R13 million for the project on 1 November 2018. Shortly after the grant approval and the signing of the grant agreement, Nelisiwe Mahlangu was appointed as a director of the NPC on 26 November 2018, while the existing directors resigned on the same day.
The NLC paid a first tranche of R7 million on 5 December 2018 and a second tranche of R6 million on 20 March 2019. Before receiving the NLC funding, the NPC had only R100 in its bank account.
The SIU investigation further uncovered financial flows from the NPC account to various entities and transactions linked to the acquisition of immovable properties.
These transactions include:
The purchase of a property in Soshanguve, Pretoria, by Mahlangu on 9 April 2019 for R345,000.Transfers totalling R5.6 million from Malusi We Sizwe NPC to Trizaflo (Pty) Ltd—an entity owned by Wisane Mabundza—between March and November 2019.
A transfer of R2,118,338 from Trizaflo to attorneys for the purchase of a property in Midstream Estate, Pretoria. This property was registered in the name of Alfred Sigudhla on 9 December 2019.
The SIU previously obtained a preservation order for this property in April 2025. The purchase and transfer of another property in The Orchards, Hartbeeshoek, Gauteng, into Mahlangu’s name on 1 October 2020.
The SIU investigation showed that the properties in Soshanguve and The Orchards were purchased for Mahlangu’s personal benefit using NLC funds, rather than for the agricultural project in KwaZulu-Natal.
The orders are intended to prevent the sale or disposal of the properties pending the finalisation of civil proceedings aimed at recovering the misappropriated funds.
The preservation orders form part of the SIU’s ongoing investigation into allegations of corruption and mismanagement related to projects funded by the NLC.
This investigation is conducted under Proclamation 32 of 2020, issued by President Cyril Ramaphosa. The SIU instituted civil proceedings under the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act 74 of 1996 as part of implementing its investigation outcomes.
These proceedings aim to recover financial losses suffered by State institutions due to corruption or negligence, including funds paid for services that were never rendered.