SIU claws back more funds as spotlight tightens on R24 million Sascoc Olympic grant

SIU claws back more funds as spotlight tightens on R24 million Sascoc Olympic grant

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is slowly reeling in money linked to one of the National Lotteries Commission’s most controversial grants, but the bulk of the cash remains out of reach.

This week, investigators confirmed a second recovery tied to a R24.9 million grant that was meant to promote South Africa’s participation in the Rio Olympics. While the amounts recovered so far are modest, the case itself is shaping up to be one of the most telling examples of how public funding meant for sport and development allegedly went off the rails.

Small recoveries, big questions

The SIU has secured an order forcing Gqeberha-based Imbizo Events to repay R70,000, following an earlier settlement of R50,000 involving media personality Minnie Dlamini. Both payments form part of a wider web of transactions connected to Olympic promotional work funded by the National Lotteries Commission (NLC).

The SIU confirmed that Dlamini has already honoured her settlement, and Imbizo Events will be allowed to repay its amount in two instalments.

While these figures barely scratch the surface, investigators say they form part of a much larger trail of irregular payments amounting to millions of rand.

The R24.9 million at the centre of it all

At the heart of the investigation is the Mshandukani Foundation NPO, which received a R24.9 million NLC grant via the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc). According to the SIU, the organisation had been registered for just six months before receiving the funding.

Even more striking is how quickly the grant was approved, within six days of application.

The money was meant to fund Olympic awareness and promotional activities ahead of the Rio Games. Instead, the SIU alleges that funds were channelled to entities and individuals linked to former NLC officials and their associates.

Other payments under scrutiny include R15 million to Ironbridge Travel Agency, R3 million to Mosokodi Business Trust, and direct transfers to former NLC officials.

Assets frozen, judgement pending

A preservation order for the full R24.9 million was granted in April last year. Since then, the SIU has frozen two luxury properties and a truck allegedly bought with misappropriated funds a move that sparked widespread discussion online about accountability and the slow grind of justice in high-profile corruption cases.

In December, the SIU filed a review application seeking to have the entire grant declared unlawful. That application, involving 17 respondents including the NLC, Sascoc, the Mshandukani Foundation, and Dlamini, is still awaiting judgement.

Why this case matters

Beyond the headlines, this investigation cuts deep in a country where sport funding carries huge symbolic weight. For many South Africans, Olympic campaigns are about national pride, not enrichment schemes.

As the SIU pushes to recover the remaining R24 million, public attention remains fixed on whether this case will finally mark a turning point in holding those linked to NLC grant abuse fully accountable.