By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
21 August 2025- The Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crime Court postponed the case against Mervyn Casterns and seven others to 29 October 2025, for further investigations. Three of the accused, Daniel Nathan, Martha Rapetsoa and Kuben Moodley, have indicated their intention to file applications for their bail conditions to be relaxed.
The Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) spokesperson, Henr Mamothame said bail proceedings will be heard on 9 September 2025. Mamothame said Zarina Prasadh (formerly Kellerman) was arrested on Monday and had appeared before the same court.
“The state opposed bail. After a formal bail hearing bail was set in the amount of R50 000 subject to strict conditions. Prasadh was expected to appear with the rest of the accused today. However, her attorney informed the court that she was admitted to hospital.
“A warrant for her arrest was issued, but the execution thereof stayed until 4 September 2025, when she is expected to appear before court,” he said.
Mamothame further said Mervyn Casterns, the CEO of the Alexkor RMC Pooling and Sharing Joint Venture (“PSJV”) together with Daniel Nathan, his company Alexander Bay Diamond Company (Pty) Ltd – formerly known as Scarlet Sky Investments (Pty) Ltd (“SSI”), Kubentheran Moodley, Martha Rapetsoa, Roslyn Crossingham, Raygen Phillips and Zarina Prasadh, are facing numerous charges of fraud and offences in terms of the Diamonds Act.
He added that the charges emanate from two diamond marketing tenders that were awarded to SSI in 2015 and again in 2016, which gave SSI exclusive right to market and sell all diamonds produced by the PSJV, a joint venture formed between Alexkor SOC and the Richtersveld Community.
“SSI allegedly acquired all unpolished diamonds produced by the PSJV and sold it on behalf of the PSJV. It is alleged that several individuals and affiliated entities did, through the marketing tenders, acquire unpolished diamonds from sales conducted by SSI for the PSJV over a period of more than five years.
“The Alexkor investigation conducted by the IDAC, emanates from findings of the Commission of Inquiry into allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud in the Public Sector Including organs of State,” said Mamothame.
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