R22 Million in Giyani Land ‘Sold’ Through Fraudulent Deeds, NPA Secures Forfeiture Order

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has secured a forfeiture order for four properties in Giyani valued at over R22 million after the High Court in Limpopo found reasonable grounds that they were unlawfully sold through fraudulent deeds, in violation of public finance legislation.

The order, granted on 13 February 2026 by the High Court of South Africa, Limpopo Division, follows an application by the NPA’s Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) . The propertiesErf 2B, Erf 58B, Erf 64B, and Erf 227Bare located on Kremetart Street in Giyani .

How It Unfolded

According to NPA Limpopo regional spokesperson Mashudu Malabi, fraudulent deeds of sale were allegedly concluded between the late Fourie Willem Jakobus and Howard Alex Mashaba and/or Magezi Ben Mashaba through a company called Mbangwa Trading and Projects .

The purported transactions involved amounts ranging from R290,000 to R450,000 , with payments allegedly made directly into Jakobus’s personal bank account .

Despite these alleged sales, the properties were never transferred and remain registered in the name of the National Government and/or the Limpopo Department of Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure .

A Hotel on State Land

The scale of the alleged malfeasance is starkly illustrated by one property: a government building that previously stood on Erf 58B was demolished, and a hotel was erected on the property .

The court accepted the AFU’s submission that there were reasonable grounds to believe the properties constituted proceeds of unlawful activities or were used as instruments to commit offences, including fraud, theft, and money laundering .

Multiple Laws Contravened

The court further accepted alleged contraventions of:

• The Municipal Finance Management Act

• The Public Finance Management Act

• Treasury Regulations

• The Limpopo Practice Note on Disposal of Assets

• Sections 5 and 6 of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act

Criminal Charges

In the same matter, two accusedAlex Mashaba and Ben Mashaba were arrested by the SAPS Limpopo Provincial Anti-Corruption Unit on charges including theft, fraud, malicious damage to property, and money laundering .

The Hawks’ Asset Forfeiture Investigation unit handled the property-related investigations, while the Anti-Corruption Unit is pursuing the criminal case .

NPA’s Warning

Director of Public Prosecutions in Limpopo, Advocate Ivy Thenga, welcomed the order and said the AFU would intensify efforts to pursue high-profile suspects using its civil forfeiture powers under Chapter 6 of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act .

“This order demonstrates that crime does not pay. Through the AFU’s civil forfeiture mandate, we can recover stolen state assets and funds, including those concealed in foreign jurisdictions. We will continue to act decisively to safeguard public resources,” Thenga said .

The Bigger Picture

The Giyani land seizure is the latest in a series of high-profile forfeiture actions as law enforcement agencies step up efforts to recover state assets allegedly stolen through fraudulent schemes. It sends a clear message that even where properties have been developedas in the case of the hotelthe state can and will reclaim what is rightfully public land.

For the residents of Giyani, the case is a stark reminder of how public resources can be looted through backroom deals and fraudulent paperwork. For the accused, it marks the beginning of a criminal process that could see them held accountable for their alleged role in the scheme.

{Source: IOL}

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