Court dismisses kwaito legend’s bid to release property
A court application by artist Arthur Mafokate to have his property released from a preservation order has been dismissed.
The Special Investigating Unit was granted the order last year to freeze three properties linked to a fraud probe at the National Lotteries Commission.
Five non-profit groups received R56-million in funding for community development projects.
One of the beneficiaries was the SA Art and Development Association, believed to be connected to the kwaito legend.
One the properties seized was Mafokate's luxury guesthouse in Midrand.
The National Prosecuting Authority's Lumka Mahanjana says the musician's entity was given R9.3 million to help unemployed youth.
But less than a third of the funds was used.
Mahanjana says he argued in court that his company was entitled to the R7 million because it'd completed the project.
"The Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Sibongile Mzinyathi, is grateful for the investigation conducted by the SIU on this matter, which illustrates the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies working together to eradicate corruption."
