Fikile Mbalula, the current ANC secretary-general, is in a row over a frozen luxury Bryanston house
29 June 2023
Published By Everything ZA Travel
According to various sources, The house was bought in 2015 by Ironbridge Trading 184 (Pty) Ltd, a company owned by Mbalula’s former business partner, Philemon Letwaba. Letwaba was the chief operating officer of the National Lotteries Commission (NLC) at the time.
In 2020, the Special Tribunal froze the house and two other properties owned by Letwaba, following allegations that they were bought with money that had been siphoned from the NLC. The Tribunal found that there was a “reasonable suspicion” that the properties had been acquired through unlawful means.
Letwaba has denied any wrongdoing, and has claimed that the house was bought with money that he had loaned to Mbalula. Mbalula has also denied any wrongdoing, and has said that he will cooperate with the investigations.
The matter is still under investigation, and it is not clear whether Mbalula will be charged with any wrongdoing. However, the row has cast a shadow over his political career.
Here are some additional details about the case:
- The house in question is a four-bedroom, three-bathroom property located in an upmarket suburb of Johannesburg. It is worth an estimated R10 million.
- Ironbridge Trading 184 (Pty) Ltd was registered in 2014, with Letwaba as the sole director and shareholder.
- The company bought the house in 2015 for R7.5 million.
- The Special Tribunal froze the house in 2020, following allegations that it was bought with money that had been siphoned from the NLC.
Who is Philemon Letwaba
Philemon Letwaba is a South African businessman and former chief operating officer of the National Lotteries Commission (NLC). He resigned from the NLC in August 2022, ahead of a disciplinary hearing into allegations of corruption.
Letwaba is a chartered accountant and has held senior positions in the public and private sectors. He was appointed COO of the NLC in 2014.
In 2020, the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) found that Letwaba had used his position at the NLC to benefit himself and his family. The SIU also found that Letwaba had failed to properly supervise the distribution of lottery funds.
Letwaba has denied any wrongdoing. He has said that he will cooperate with the SIU’s investigation.
The allegations against Letwaba have cast a shadow over the NLC, which is a government agency that raises money for good causes. The NLC has been criticized for its lack of transparency and accountability.
The allegations against Letwaba have also raised questions about the governance of state-owned enterprises in South Africa. State-owned enterprises are often accused of corruption and mismanagement.
The outcome of the SIU’s investigation into Letwaba’s conduct could have implications for the NLC and for the government’s anti-corruption efforts.
