Terry Pheto, a tsotsi star, linked to fraud

Terry Pheto, an internationally renowned actor, has been charged with fraud in connection with funding by the National Lotteries Commission (NLC).

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is looking into a multimillion-rand fraud scheme in which Pheto, who played the lead role in the Oscar-winning feature film Tsotsi, and eight other people, including two lawyers, an accountant, the CEO of a hotel chain, and a former NLC commissioner, allegedly obtained properties using funds that were fraudulently obtained from the NLC.

The high court in Pretoria granted the SIU permission to seize nine luxury properties owned by the star and eight other people, five of whom are trust fund representatives, in Pretoria, Centurion, Hartbeespoort, and Johannesburg, as well as a BMW 420i and two Ocean Basket franchises in the East Rand, all of which are valued at a total of about R25 million.

Terry Pheto, Lesley Ramulifho, Collin Tshisimba, Promise Kharivhe, Mashundu Shanduka, Charlotte Mampane, Jim Skosana, Botshelo Moloto, and Rebotile Malomane are accused of purchasing the seized properties using funds obtained from the NLC through grant funding, according to a statement released by the SIU.

The SIU said:

SIU investigations into the affairs of the NLC revealed that the acquisition of the properties was funded by nonprofit organisations with money they had received under the auspices of grant funding from the NLC.

Accordingly, “The luxury properties constitute proceeds of unlawful activities,” the unit claimed. “Therefore, the preservation order application is made pending the final determination of the application for final forfeiture.”

According to the SIU, it has been looking into crimes that occurred between January 1, 2014, and November 6, 2020.

Mampane held the position of NLC commissioner for ten years before quitting immediately due to fraud allegations.

Lawyer Ramulifho is providing legal services to the NLC. According to reports, he and several employees of his Pretoria legal firm are being looked into for allegedly obtaining at least R60 million in lottery grants.

While Kharivhe was detained by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team in Johannesburg last year and charged with fraud arising from a falsified grant application submitted to the National Lotteries Board for funding in October 2018, Tshisimba is the owner of a management firm called Ndavha Management.

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