The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has obtained a court order to freeze a Pretoria property allegedly linked to the late award-winning actor Presley Chweneyagae as part of an ongoing investigation into corruption at the National Lotteries Commission (NLC). The move marks a significant development in efforts to recover public funds suspected to have been misappropriated from a multimillion-rand grant meant to uplift youth through the arts.
The preservation order was granted on 18 December by Judge M Victor and applies to Ms Charlaine Christinah Chweneyagae, both in her personal capacity and as the executrix of her late husband’s estate. It also includes several co-respondents, among them Mr Alfred Muzwakhe Sigudla, the Southern African Youth Movement non-profit organisation, and Domestic Baboon (Pty) Ltd.
In terms of the court order, the affected parties are prohibited from selling, transferring, leasing, or in any way disposing of the property while the SIU prepares civil proceedings. The unit has been given 60 court days to formally institute these proceedings, during which time the asset will remain frozen to prevent any potential dissipation.
According to the SIU, investigators believe the Pretoria residence was purchased using approximately R889,000 that was unlawfully diverted from a R15 million grant awarded by the NLC. The funding was originally intended to support youth arts development programmes through the Southern African Youth Movement, an organisation that was meant to advance creative opportunities for young people.
The investigation alleges that the grant funds were channelled through Domestic Baboon (Pty) Ltd, a company wholly owned by the late Chweneyagae, and were then used to acquire the private property instead of being applied to their intended public purpose. The SIU maintains that this constitutes a serious misuse of public funds and a breach of the conditions attached to the grant.
While the preservation order is a civil measure, the SIU has indicated that any criminal conduct uncovered during the investigation will be referred to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for possible prosecution. This could potentially lead to criminal charges should sufficient evidence of fraud, corruption, or other offences be established.
The SIU’s actions form part of a broader probe into widespread maladministration and corruption at the NLC. The unit was authorised by President Cyril Ramaphosa under Proclamation R32 of 2020 to investigate allegations of wrongdoing within the commission, including the improper awarding and use of grants, and to recover state funds lost through unlawful activities.
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This latest development underscores the SIU’s continued commitment to holding individuals and entities accountable, regardless of their public profile, and to ensuring that funds meant to benefit vulnerable communities are used for their intended purposes. As the investigation progresses, further legal action may follow, shedding more light on the extent of alleged corruption linked to NLC grants.
