By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has successfully secured two preservation orders against Hangwani Maimela and Rudolph Mazibuko.
According to the NPA, the orders were carried out following two separate preservation applications granted by the Gauteng High Court in August 2025.
Authorities have seized assets worth millions, including high-end residential properties, and luxury vehicles.
The seized assets form part of ongoing investigations into procurement fraud and tender manipulation at Tembisa Hospital.
Slain whistle-blower Babita Deokaran, who was the Chief Director of Financial Accounting at the Gauteng Department of Health, detailed serious procurement irregularities at the hospital.
The main beneficiary of irregular procurement practice was Dr Stefan Govindraju, who between January 1 2020 and October 11 2022 received about R437m using different companies.
The Maumela family were shown to be the second-biggest beneficiaries. Hangwani Morgan Maumela and his cousin scored more than R336m in contracts.
They were followed by the Mazibuko family (R249,581,855) and ANC Ekurhuleni treasurer-general Sello Sekhokho, who received R1.7m.
NPA spokesperson, Phindi Mjonondwane said on August 14, 2025, the AFU was granted an order to seize assets valued at around R326 million, belonging to members of the Maumela syndicate.
Mjonondwane added that the order encompasses premium properties in affluent regions, along with luxury vehicles, including four Lamborghinis, a Bentley, and a boat. Subsequently, on August 27, 2025, another order targeted assets totalling at least R47 million related to the Mazibuko syndicate, which includes high-end residential properties and luxury cars worth over R10 million.
“The applications by the AFU are premised on forensic investigations by firms appointed to assist in the investigation concerning allegations of procurement fraud and corruption that took place at the Tembisa Hospital during the period from January 2019 to August 2022,” she said.
She added that investigations highlighted that funds acquired by these syndicates were predominantly funnelled into personal assets, bribes, and extravagant lifestyles, rather than supplying the necessary goods and services to the hospital.
Advocate Ouma Rabaji-Rasethaba, Deputy National Director of the NPA responsible for the AFU, remarked on the importance of these proceedings, asserting that each instance of corruption only exacerbates the challenges faced by ordinary South Africans.
The SIU has significantly broadened its Tembisa Hospital graft probe, originally initiated by Deokaran, to include a staggering 5,500 transactions valued at up to R3-billion.
The intricate investigation has uncovered hundreds of proxy business entities and numerous bank accounts used to launder illicit funds.