By OBAKENG MAJE
The North West High Court has granted the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), known as the Hawks, a restraint order against Caswell Mthombeni (52) and his company, Caswell Mthombeni Consultants CC.
This is to restrain properties to the value of over R21 million belonging to Mthombeni and his company. These include luxury properties in Mooikloof Heights Estate in Pretoria East, a filling station in Giyani in the Limpopo Province, and 6 other immovable properties located in Limpopo, Gauteng and Mpumalanga Provinces.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson, Henry Mamothame said, the order also includes 25 motor vehicles, which are mostly bakkies, Range Rover, and a Mercedes Benz GLE63.
Mamothame said it is alleged that, in October 2015, Mthombeni was appointed by the North West Community Safety and Transport Management to help the department achieve its road safety objectives, which included training unemployed matriculants and empowering accredited driving schools in various pilot areas.
“His mandate also included training and developing driving schools and learner drivers. An amount of over R21 million was allegedly paid to his company for the commencement of the programme.
“Over 40 driving schools allegedly signed contracts with the company as beneficiaries of the programme. It is further alleged that these driving schools utilised their funds to participate in the programme, in anticipation that the company would compensate them,” said Mamothame.
He further said Mthombeni allegedly failed to honour his contractual agreement with the driving schools, but the funds on himself. Mamothame added that, as a result, the department incurred losses to the tune of over R21 million.
“He was arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation assisted by Priority Crime Specialised Investigation and Tactical Operations Management Section in Pretoria on 26 June 2023. Mthombeni is expected back in court on 27 March 2024.
“He made his first appearance in the Mahikeng Magistrate’s Court on 27 June 2023, facing charges of fraud, theft and money laundering. Mthombeni was granted R50 000 bail and the court ordered him to surrender his passport, report to his nearest police station every Monday and Friday between 6am and 6pm,” he said.
According to Mamothame, the accused was also informed not to interfere with the state’s witnesses.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Head for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPP), Major General Patrick Mbotho and the Director for Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari, commended the collaboration between AFU, DPCI and the NPA’s Specialised Commercial Crime Unit (SCCU) in obtaining a restraint order against Mthombeni to recoup on proceeds of crime.
Makhari and Mbotho vowed to continue working together in clamping down on corruption in the province.
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