AFU SECURES R4 MILLION FINAL FORFEITURE ORDER AGAINST COMPANY LINKED TO LIEBENBERG
18 SEPTEMBER 2025
AFU SECURES R4 MILLION FINAL FORFEITURE ORDER AGAINST COMPANY LINKED TO LIEBENBERG
Pretoria – The High Court in Pretoria has granted the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) a final forfeiture order in terms of section 48 of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA), Act 121 of 1998.
The order relates to R4 million plus interest, held in a Standard Bank account under the name of ZencoCare (Pty) Ltd, which is proceeds of unlawful activities. ZencoCare formed part of the Forever Diamonds and Gold group of companies, with its sole director, Desiree Liebenberg, the spouse of Louis Liebenberg. Both are implicated in an unlawful investment scheme that lured members of the public, locally and abroad, to invest in diamond parcels with the promise of lucrative, short-term returns. Investigations revealed that no such diamond parcels existed. Instead, investor funds were misappropriated and used to pay earlier investors, in a manner typical of an unlawful multiplication (Ponzi-type) scheme.
In 2024, ZencoCare transferred R5 million to attorneys. Of this, R1 million was paid to Eskom for mining-related activities, while the remaining R4 million was preserved. That amount, together with accrued interest, has now been forfeited to the State. The funds had originally been earmarked for the purchase of West Coast Resources (Pty) Ltd, a diamond mining company in the Northern Cape. The forfeited funds will be paid into the Criminal Assets Recovery Account (CARA), ensuring that proceeds of crime are redirected to the state to strengthen the fight against organised crime and corruption. The NPA welcomes this ruling, which reinforces that criminal enterprises will not be allowed to profit from their unlawful schemes.
The Asset Forfeiture Unit remains committed to stripping offenders of the benefits of crime and safeguarding the public from fraudulent conduct. This matter forms part of broader investigations into the Forever Diamonds and Gold group, its directors, and associated entities. Louis and Desiree Liebenberg, together with seven co-accused, face charges of fraud, theft, racketeering, and money laundering. They are expected to appear before the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrates’ Court on 25 November 2025. Louis and Desiree remain in custody, while the co-accused are currently out on bail.
The NPA’s Asset Forfeiture Unit will relentlessly pursue all legal avenues to strip criminals of their illicit gains, ensuring that assets derived from unlawful activities are forfeited to the State and redirected to strengthen the fight against crime.
Issued by:
Lumka Mahanjana
NPA Regional Spokesperson
Gauteng Division: Pretoria
073 002 0000