COURT GRANTS FORFEITURE ORDER AGAINST GIYANI PROPERTIES WORTH OVER R22 MILLION
23 February 2023
COURT GRANTS FORFEITURE ORDER AGAINST GIYANI PROPERTIES WORTH OVER R22 MILLION
Polokwane, Limpopo – The Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in the Limpopo Division has secured a forfeiture order from the High Court of South Africa, Limpopo Division, against four properties in Giyani valued at approximately R22 million. The order, granted on 13 February 2026, relates to Erf 2B, Erf 58B, Erf 64B and Erf 227B situated on Kremetart Street, Giyani. The successful forfeiture is the result of coordinated efforts by the South African Police Service’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), the Anti-Corruption Unit, and the AFU.
The court accepted the AFU’s submission that there are reasonable grounds to believe the properties constitute proceeds of unlawful activities and/or were used as instruments to commit offences, including:
• Fraud, theft, and money laundering.
• Contravention of Limpopo Practice Note on Disposal of Assets (Note No. 05/2007).
• Breaches of municipal and provincial asset disposal policies.
• Contraventions of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA).
• Contraventions of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) and Treasury Regulations; and
• Contraventions of sections 5 and 6 of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA), including assisting another to benefit from unlawful proceeds and knowingly acquiring or using such property.
These offences are alleged to have been perpetrated against the National Government and the Limpopo Department of Public Works, Roads, and Infrastructure. It is alleged that fraudulent deeds of sale were concluded between the late Fourie Willem Jakobus, Howard Alex Mashaba and/or Magezi Ben Mashaba (Mashaba Senior), through a company known as Mbangwa Trading and Projects. The purported sales involved Erf 2B, Erf 58B, Erf 64B and Erf 227B for amounts ranging from R290 000 to R450 000, with payments allegedly made directly into Jakobus’s personal bank account.
Despite the purported transactions, the properties were never transferred and remain registered in the name of the National Government and/or the Limpopo Department of Public Works. Notably, the department’s building that once stood on Erf 58B was demolished, and a hotel has since been erected on the property.
The Director of Public Prosecutions in Limpopo, Adv Ivy Thenga, welcomed the court order, stating that the AFU will intensify its efforts to pursue high-profile suspects, particularly through its civil forfeiture powers under Chapter 6 of POCA. “This order demonstrates that crime does not pay. Through the AFU’s civil forfeiture mandate, we can recover stolen state assets and funds, including those concealed in foreign jurisdictions. We will continue to act decisively to safeguard public resources,” she said. She further commended the collaborative work of the DPCI, the Anti-Corruption Unit and the AFU, emphasising their commitment to accountability and the protection of public assets.
Issued by:
Mashudu Malabi
Regional Spokesperson
PA Limpopo Division
074 823 3608