A FORMER National Lotteries Commission (NLC) chief operating officer was fingered before he could sell his farm, which is linked to the infamous lotto heist investigation.
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) said it has obtained an interdict from the Special Tribunal to stop the sale of a farm in Limpopo linked to Phillemon Letwaba and his brother Johannes Letwaba.
The crime watchdog said the farm was listed for R7 million last year and is currently under offer for R5 million.
SIU spokesperson, Kaizer Kganyago discloses findings indicating NLC funds were channelled through the Letwaba brothers' organisations for the farm's purchase.
According to Kganyago, the farm, registered under the Mosokoti Business Trust owned by the Letwaba brothers, awaits civil action as the SIU aims to recover misappropriated funds within 60 days.
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He said the SIU's investigation into Letwaba’s illegal dealings during his tenure at the NLC revealed that in July 2015, an application for grant funding for the Lulamisa Community Development Organisation NPO (Lulamisa) was submitted to the NLC.
He said on the application form, the NPO requested an amount of R85 million for hosting the Commonwealth Games, which would benefit the people of South Africa and boost the economy of the City of Durban.
He said the NLC granted Lulamisa R80 million in two tranches and made various payment to Iron Bridge Travelling Agency owned by Letwaba’s wife, Rebotile Malomane.
“In April 2016, Iron Bridge Travelling and Events transferred R1 000 000.00 to Conveyancing Attorneys, which went towards purchasing the farm,” he said.
Kganyago added that the farm was purchased for a total of R4 766 003.83, some of the funds came from other companies which were awarded funding by the NLC.
