Hawks probe theft of state land

THIS week the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) revealed that the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) has recovered more than R53 million linked to the fraudulent transfer of government land to private entities and individuals.

This came after the SIU was granted an order by the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, to attach fraudulently acquired government land in Ekurhuleni.

SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said in a statement the order, dated April 18, 2024, said Farm 33 Zuurfontein in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, must be transferred to the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development as the original title deed owner and RIC Development paid the department R12 million.

He said an investigation uncovered the fraudulent transfer of government land to private entities and individuals by certain syndicates.

“The order follows an SIU investigation which revealed that a syndicate of individuals and private entities defrauded the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform and the respective Deeds Registries in Vryburg, Johannesburg and Pretoria by fraudulently transferring government property to individuals and private entities for their benefit.

“The SIU’S investigation looked into fraud and corruption committed between January 2008 and February 2022,” he said.

Kganyago said investigators went through a series of documents and affidavits in order to get to the bottom of the matter.

“As part of the investigation, numerous affidavits were obtained by the SIU from internal Rural Development and Land Reform Department and Deeds Registry staff members, external witnesses and/or transferring attorneys,” he said.

According to the SIU, the order was granted by President Cyril Ramaphosa in a bid to uncover allegations of corruption and maladministration relating to the transfer of government land to individuals and private entities and to recover the loss the state had suffered.

“In line with the SIU Act, the SIU referred evidence pointing to criminal conduct to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for further action.

“The referral resulted in a criminal case being registered with the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks),” Kganyago said.

The assets which were attached include Farm 33 Zuurfontein which was meant for the development of low-income housing and a school in the community, said to be worth R41 million.

Furthermore, the SIU said a payment of R12 million for the property known as

Holding Beverley Agricultural Holdings, which was bought by RIC Development from the government through a land theft syndicate was bought from the “land thieves” and developed without RIC’S knowing that it had been stolen.

“This forfeiture order is part of the implementation of the National Anti-corruption Strategy by law enforcement agencies to strengthen its fight against corruption,” said the SIU.