Once flamboyant businessman Somandla Sibisi used to fly music icons to his hometown of Kimberley, Northern Cape capital, for jazz festivals before being embroiled in a major tender corruption case.
Sibisi also hosted celebrities at his nightclub, Live Café, a business which this week was confiscated by the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) Assets Forfeiture Unit (AFU) on allegations that it was bought through money obtained fraudulently.
In a statement released by the AFU, it stated that Sibisi obtained personal protective equipment (PPE) tenders worth R27-million in Northern Cape through his companies Macronym 37 and Aphiwokuhle Holdings.
The unit froze assets including a residential property bought for some R900 000, the café which was bought for more than R2-million, kitchen equipment bought for over R300 000 and a 2013 model Audi A1 car bought for R130 000.
“These assets will be preserved awaiting an application by the AFU for the final forfeiture to the state,” the unit said.
R26m case include charges of fraud, corruption and money laundering
Sibisi and his co-accused including department officials appeared at the Kimberley magistrates’ court on Thursday on charges that include fraud, corruption, forgery, money laundering, contravening the provisions of section 86(1) of the Public Finance Management Act and defeating or obstructing the course of justice.
NPA regional spokesperson, Mojalefa Senokoatsane, explained that the vehicle and property were bought allegedly with “the proceeds of the money received from the Northern Cape Department of Health” through PPE related tenders.
“This preservation order emanates from a case where… Sibisi, who is accused number nine, his company is accused number eight, in the Department of Health Northern Cape PPE-related matter amounting to more than R26-million, made his first appearance together with other twelve (12) co-accused on 11 October 2023, in the Kimberley Magistrates’ Court.
“The accused are facing charges of Contravention of Provisions of Section 86(1) of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), fraud, corruption, forgery, money laundering, uttering, and defeating or obstructing the course of justice concerning the amount of more than R26.9 million.
“The preservation order, the arrest as well and the appearance in court flow from a multi-disciplinary exertion by the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU), the Special Commercial Crimes Unit (SCCU), the Special Investigation Unit (SIU), and the Directorate of Priority Crimes Unit (DPCI),” he said.
Accused include former HOD Dr Theys
Sibisi’s co-accused in the case are:
- Dr Dion Theys, Northern Cape department of health’s former head of the department
- Mosimanegape Gaborone, department’s former chief financial officer
- Montgomery Lifa Faas, director of supply chain management
- Victor Nyokong, deputy director of finance
- Siyabulela Booi, director for administration assistant of supply chain management
- Elizabeth Dibueng Manyetsa, retired deputy director of nursing directorate for communicable diseases
- Goitsemodimo Piet Moseki, assistant director directorate for communicable diseases
- Macronym 37 (PTY) LTD
- Cleopatra Norman, the administrative clerk working for Macronym 37 (PTY) LTD
- Macdonald Mampe, employee of Macronym 37
- Masedi Star (PTY) LTD
- Obakeng Samane, director of Masedi Star
“These assets will be preserved awaiting an application by the AFU for the final forfeiture to the State. Dr Dion Theys, Mosimanegape Gaborone, Montgomery Lifa Faas, Victor Nyokong, Siyabulela Booi, Elizabeth Dibueng Manyetsa, Goitsemodimo Piet Moseki, are also out on bail in another department of health Northern Cape PPE-related matter amounting to more than R16-million. [The case] will be back in the Kimberley District Court on 16 October 2023,” Senokoatsane concluded.
Meanwhile, before his fall from grace, Sibisi was known in the entertainment industry for organising jazz festivals which featured South Africa’s greats including Hugh Masekela, Judith Sephuma, Ray Phiri, Stimela and Simphiwe Dana.
One of the events includes the inaugural SA Jazz Festival in Kimberley in 2016.
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