Music label boss Arthur Mafokate will take on the special investigating unit (SIU) in court to fight for his luxury guest house which was frozen in January following allegations that it was bought through fraud.
Sunday World can reveal that the Kwaito legend has obtained a court date of August 29 for a hearing in the high court in Johannesburg where he will challenge the SIU.
The SIU and the National Prosecuting Authority’s asset forfeiture unit obtained a preservation order from the same court on December 21 to freeze three luxury properties, a plot, and a portion of a farm linked to the siphoning of lotteries grant fund, the National Lotteries Commission (NLC).
The Mnike hitmaker’s posh La Villa Rosa guest house was allegedly purchased with money from the NLC, which was meant for the musician’s non-profit organisation, SA Arts and Development Association (SAADA).
SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said the muso is within his rights to defend the preservation order from being declared permanent.
“We just know that he said he is challenging the court order and it is his right to challenge the order and we will defend on our side,” said Kganyago.
“We got the order, so now he must go and say if he wants to challenge this, then we will defend.”
Mafokate had not responded to a request for comment by the time of publishing.
He allegedly received over R9-million from the NLC through SAADA to do art projects for the benefit of young people from underprivileged communities.
The 999 Music boss allegedly took the money remaining from the project and purchased the guest house.
The SIU revealed that Mafokate’s La Villa Rosa had been seized along with properties belonging to former lotteries commission employees including former lawyer Lesley Ramulifho, former board member William Elias Huma, and former board chairperson Alfred Nevhutanda and his wife, Rachel.
In a publicised YouTube broadcast on his challenge, Mafokate denies any wrongdoing, stating that the SIU must do its job and that the law must take its course.
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