By REGINALD KANYANE
3 November 2026 – The Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) in KwaZulu-Natal has secured a R31 million forfeiture order from the Pietermaritzburg High Court. The order is in respect of a fraudulent land claim made to the Department of Land Affairs (the Department) in 2008.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in Kwazulu-Natal, Natasha Ramkisson-Kara said in 2008 the department embarked on a land restitution project mandated by parliament to provide for the restitution of rights because of past racial discriminatory laws and practices. Ramkisson-Kara said subsequently, in June 2008, the department received land claims from two land restitution claimants (Trusts).
“The claims were approved, and approximately R45 million was made available for the acquisition of land. Portions of the land were subsequently registered in the names of the trusts for the benefit of the claimants. In October 2008, the Department together with the Special Investigative Unit (SIU) interviewed 26 land claimants under the two Trusts and it was established that some of the claimants were fraudulent.
“It came to light that during the application for land restitution to the Department in June 2008, fraudulent supporting documentation ‘purportedly’ from the Master of the High Court (the Master) was submitted to the Department. The Master confirmed that no documents were ever lodged or existed in the Master’s office for the Trusts,” she said.
Ramkisson-Kara further said in 2013, the matter was referred to the AFU who argued that the land bought with R45 million was the proceeds of unlawful activity. She added that a High Court Preservation Order was obtained in March 2016 in terms of Section 38 of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act 121 of 1998.
“After lengthy opposition and court disputes, the Pietermaritzburg High Court issued a final Forfeiture Order for the land, which is currently appraised at R31m, being the proceeds of unlawful activity. This Forfeiture order was successfully secured by Adv Sakhile P. Ngcobo from the AFU in KwaZulu-Natal.
“The NPA welcomes the order as part of the AFU’s mandate to ensure that proceeds of unlawful activities are recovered,” said Ramkisson-Kara.
