The Special Investigating Unit (SIU)-appointed curator is pursuing information about a vehicle allegedly located at a property in Midrand, Johannesburg, believed to be linked to the Tembisa Hospital investigation.
The curator is tracing eight outstanding vehicles, including four Ferraris, three Porsches and one Bentley, linked to the alleged R900 million Tembisa Hospital corruption syndicate.
The SIU said a recent tip-off from an anonymous whistle-blower led investigators to a property allegedly belonging to a business associate of businessman Hangwani Maumela, where a luxury Bentley was reportedly hidden.
“While a raid on the premises revealed that the vehicle had already been moved, the SIU maintains that it will remain relentless in tracking down the fleet.
“The curator is acting in accordance with two previous court orders placing the vehicles under the curator’s control.
“The asset seizure forms part of a broader legal battle against what authorities have described as the ‘Maumela Syndicate’.
“Armed with a Special Tribunal order, the curator has been granted the power to take control of assets to enforce a R503 million preservation order, forming part of a larger R900 million pool of frozen assets linked to the Tembisa Hospital looting scandal,” said SIU spokesperson Selby Makgotho during the operation.
Under the ruling, members of the alleged syndicate are also legally required to provide full and frank written disclosures under oath.
They have been ordered to declare all movable and immovable property, bank funds, business interests and hidden assets in which they hold beneficial ownership.
According to the SIU, its investigation into the Gauteng Department of Health and Tembisa Hospital is being conducted under Proclamation 136 of 2023.
Under the SIU Act, investigators have several statutory powers to help dismantle the alleged network. These include subpoenaing and analysing bank statements and mobile phone records, conducting search and seizure operations at properties, and questioning implicated witnesses and suspects under oath.
“Any evidence of criminal syndication uncovered by the SIU and the curator will be handed directly to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for criminal prosecution, alongside ongoing civil litigation to recover misappropriated public funds,” explained Makgotho.
