The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has intensified its search for eight luxury vehicles, including a forfeited Bentley allegedly hidden by businessman, Hangwani Morgan Maumela.
Maumela is a key suspect in an alleged R2 billion corruption and procurement fraud scandal involving Tembisa Hospital.
SIU spokesperson Selby Makgotho says the unit conducted a search-and-seizure operation at a Midrand property, as part of ongoing asset recovery efforts.
Video: SIU serves a search and seizure warrant at a property linked to prominent businessman
Makgotho indicated that the raid followed an anonymous whistleblower tip, that the Bentley was at the property.
The vehicle was not found, but the search is continuing. The other outstanding vehicles are four Ferraris and three Porsches.
The SIU has also said it’s considering contempt of court proceedings against Maumela, accusing him of repeatedly challenging court orders through legal applications.
“Indeed, the information that we had received that brought us here this afternoon was to the effect that one of the vehicles, a Bentley that we are looking for as part of the vehicles in relation to the Maumela syndicate was actually at this property. This property, when we did the background search, we found that it is the owner thereof. It’s one of those whose names and details appear on the contract that were awarded to Maumela. So, it was not a lost opportunity. So, we came in here, we found that this is an office, a house turned office and there is no one. Even the vehicle that we are looking for is not here. however, we are going on with the search. We are currently looking for eight vehicles on the Maumela syndicate. Currently we are, the curator is in possession of the 15, there is eight outstanding,” says Makgotho.
Video: SIU raids property owned by prominent businessman