Cape Town – Renowned South African actress Terry Pheto is reportedly in danger of losing her luxury home after the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) allegedly said that the money used to buy that property was supposed to be given to a Non-Profit Organisation.
Reports indicated that the SIU had on Friday obtained a preservation order from the High Court of South Africa to freeze assets estimated at R25 million amid a probe into financial mismanagement and corruption at the NLC.
The actress who is best known for her leading role as Miriam in the 2006 Oscar-winning feature film Tsotsi responded to the allegations on social media over the weekend.
“I am dismayed to discover I am the subject of a SIU 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,” Pheto said in a post.
— Terry Pheto (@TerryPheto) November 5, 2022
However, the SIU has refuted these claims, as its spokesperson, Kaizer Kganyago, explained how she was implicated.
The Citizen reported that Kganyago said the money was traced to her.
“Her name came into the fold when we were tracing the money and we ended up in this property that is owned by her and that is why her name is attached to this because we were tracing the money that was supposed to have gone to an NPO, to other people, and ended up being used to buy the property that she owns,” he was reported as saying.
Reports indicated that the SIU had on Friday obtained a preservation order from the High Court of South Africa to freeze assets estimated at R25 million amid a probe into financial mismanagement and corruption at the NLC.
The Special Investigating Unit said Pheto, was among those implicated and who had been “prohibited from selling, disposing of, leasing, transferring, donating, or dealing in any manner whatsoever with respect to the immovable and movable properties”.
The SIU said nine luxury properties in Pretoria, Centurion, Hartbeespoort and Johannesburg, a BMW 420i and two ocean basket franchises in the East Rand with a combined value of approximately R25 million had been seized., The Citizen reported.
SIU has confirmed that actress #TerryPheto is being investigated for National Lotteries Commission fraud scheme amounting to millions. But the Tsotsi star has denied benefitting from the scandal. Groundup journalist Raymond Joseph elaborates.
Watch: https://t.co/cBkdwU62RJ pic.twitter.com/OscUnPTv2z
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) November 7, 2022
According to IOL, others implicated were lawyer Lesley Ramulifho, Collin Mukondeleli Tshisimba, Fulufhelo Promise Kharivhe, AO Residence Trust represented by Mashudu Shandukani, Rasemate Family Trust represented by Rebotile Malomane, Mojakgomo Family Trust represented Thabang Charlotte Mampane (ex-lotteries boss), Unbrand properties represented by Sthembiso Jim Skosana, and Just Cuban Trust represented by Botshelo Cornelius Moloto.
Kaya959 reported that the SIU said it had approached the actress two months ago to question her with regard to where she had garnered the money to purchase her luxury home.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Picture: Instagram/ @terrypheto
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Junaid Benjamin
