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WATCH | SIU told to release luxury cars linked to alleged tender kingpin Hangwani Maumela

8 months By Staff Bona

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has been ordered to conditionally release five luxury vehicles linked to corruption-accused businessman Hangwani Maumela, who is implicated in the alleged R2 billion looting of Tembisa Hospital.

The cars — including two Aston Martins, two Ferraris and a Rolls-Royce — were seized from Omar’s Motor Den in Witbank after SIU raids last year.

Last Friday, former Special Tribunal president Judge Margaret Victor ruled that the SIU failed to disclose key information when obtaining the preservation order and ordered the vehicles’ release, provided the dealership furnishes financial security equal to each car’s market value.

SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said the unit suspects Omar’s Motor Den, which is disputing the confiscation of vehicles connected to Maumela, is acting on behalf of the businessman and his associates.

He said that investigators followed the financial trail in the corruption case, which ultimately led them to the dealership.

“These vehicles are not the ones that have been circulated on social media because people are giving the impression that we are giving back the ones that we’ve got from Maumela’s house, which is not the case,” Kganyago said.

“But, the issue here is we are of the view that this dealership is saving us a proxy for Maumela and others.

“Therefore, that is why we went to them. We didn’t just wake up and go to this dealership; we were following the sale of these cars and where the money went at Thembisa Hospital, and it ended up with them.

“That is why we went to them. Therefore, the significance of them being part of this is because of exactly that,” Kganyago said.

The broader investigation has already seen authorities seize assets worth about R400 million, including multiple supercars, luxury homes and a boat.

Compiled by Betha Madhomu 

First published on African Insider 

Also see: SIU recovers R1.7 billion from institutions for NSFAS funding

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