By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Bryanston, Johannesburg, house of actress Moitheri “Terry” Pheto, which was built with funds siphoned from the National Lotteries Commission (NLC), will be auctioned on Thursday.
On the website, auction house Asset Auctions stated that the house bidding will start at R3 million and go as high as R6 million.
Pheto was linked to a property fraud matter in November where the SIU obtained a high court preservation order to freeze nine luxury properties in Gauteng, a BMW 420i and two Ocean Basket franchises on the East Rand. Their combined value is about R25m linked to Pheto and others.
According to a statement released by the SIU, these people were Pheto, Lesley Ramulifho, Collin Tshisimba, Promise Kharivhe, Mashudu Shandukani, Thabang Mampane, Sthembiso Skosana, Botshelo Moloto and Rebotile Malomane.
“The SIU investigations have found that the money used for the purchase of the land and construction of the home came from non-profit organisations that received NLC funding meant for the roll-out of a public campaign and culturally sensitive medical intervention projects aimed at achieving traditional circumcision practice,” said SIU in a statement.
“After the preservation order was granted, Pheto’s legal representatives contacted the SIU and the AFU, indicating that they will not contest the preservation order granted by the High Court,” SIU said.
After the news broke in November claiming she was involved in a multimillion-rand scheme relating to funding by the NLC, Pheto issued a statement denying having had any fraudulent involvement with the lotteries commission.
“I am dismayed to discover that I am the subject of a Special Investigation Unit probe into allegations of fraud relating to funding by the National Lotteries Commission. I deny any involvement in the alleged scheme that has been reported on. I also had no prior knowledge of an application to obtain a preservation order against me and have no sight of this order,” she said.
She further thanked people who had supported her and said she would cooperate fully, openly, and transparently with the investigation.
The SIU said that the auctioning is a continuation of the implementation of the SIU investigation outcomes and consequence management to recover assets and financial losses suffered by State institutions and/or to prevent further losses.