The Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) and Special Investigations Unit (SIU) have been ordered by the North Gauteng High Court to freeze land illegally transferred to private entities and individuals.
The land is valued at around R53 million.
Land worth R144 million was seized
The land consists of agricultural and livestock land in Gauteng.
A similar preservation order was previously granted by the high court on 9 September 2022, for an estimated value of R144 million.
This takes the total value of the frozen assets to R197 million.
NPA Gauteng spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said the court order prevented the affected individuals and entities from taking charge of the property – Nyepeng 34 Beverley Agricultural Holdings and Section 296 of Farm Zuurfontein 33.
The individuals and private entities involved are:
- B and B Media
- Nicolas Martinaas Roets
- Christopher Peterson
- Development of RCI
- Segwapa Inc
Fraud and corruption
This comes after an investigation by the SIU into fraud at the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development as well as the deed registries in Vryburg, Johannesburg and Pretoria.
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Mahanja said the SIU shared the evidence with the AFU, which approached the high court for a preservation order.
“The evidence gathered points to acts of fraud and corruption that took place between January 2008 and February 2022,” Mahanja said.
“As part of the investigation, many affidavits were obtained by the SIU from internal Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development and staff members of the registry of deeds, external witnesses and/or transfer attorneys.”
A criminal case has been registered with the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks).
“This preservation order is part of the implementation of the national anti-corruption strategy by law enforcement agencies to strengthen the fight against corruption,” said Mahanja.
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