The Special Investigative Unit (SIU) yesterday revealed during their recent update to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry that they have completed 90% of their investigation into the National Lotteries Commission (NLC). This investigation, which began with the aim of probing grant funding maladministration and corruption, has unveiled a web of alleged misconduct involving several high-profile figures, including celebrities like Tsotsi actor Presley Chweneyagae, actress Moitheri Terry Pheto and Kwaito star Arthur Mafokate.
One of the revelations in the presentation was the alleged misuse of funds by Pheto, her sister Dimakatso, and fashion designer Thula Sindi. The SIU claims that the three benefited from an NLC grant funding scheme, allegedly with funds for a chicken farm project valued at R5 million linked to a non-profit company in December 2018. The SIU alleges that despite the funds being earmarked for the farm, they ended up in various bank accounts, including those of Pheto and Sindi.
SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago expressed concern over the misuse of funds, stating, “This was supposed to be used for a chicken farm, but it ended up being in disposed bank accounts. The principle in this one is not even specific for anyone, this money all of it the five million was not used for the farm that they were talking about.”
This latest development comes after the SIU obtained a preservation order in November 2022 to freeze several properties, including Pheto’s luxury Bryanston house, which was sold in early 2023.
