South Africa reinforces lottery grant oversight with SIU’s R3.2m recovery
SIU recovers R3.2m from NLC grant beneficiaries, strengthening accountability and exposing coordinated misuse of funds.
South Africa.- South Africa’s Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has recovered R3.2m (€160,000) linked to National Lotteries Commission (NLC) grants, reinforcing accountability and confidence in lottery funding oversight.
In a statement issued on April 28, the SIU said it had secured the full repayment of R1.5m (€75,000) from Todi Media Development Foundation NPC and R1.71m (€86,000) from Zibsiflo NPC. The unit said both entities had unduly benefited from NLC grant funding intended for public-benefit projects.
The SIU said both cases formed part of a co-ordinated scheme involving the same network of individuals who misused grants intended for media development and women’s soccer clinics. Todi Media had received a R1.5m (€75,000) grant in 2018 for a media project covering journalists’ accommodation, car hire, catering, equipment rental, guest speakers, marketing and security.
Instead, the SIU found that funds were diverted to Unscripted Communication, whose director is Makhudu Sefara, which received R550,000 (€28,000), and to Black Dungaree, whose director is Daniel Matome Malatjie, which received R900,000 (€45,000). The SIU found that the R900,000 (€45,000) was used to purchase a property in Bassonia Rock Extension, Johannesburg.
Khutso Daniel Makwela, the director of Todi Media Development Foundation NPC, admitted misuse, signed an Acknowledgement of Debt (AOD) and repaid the full R1.5m (€75,000) on March 30, 2026.
Zibsiflo NPC received a R1.71m (€86,000) grant between 2019 and 2020 for women’s soccer clinics in the Free State. The SIU found that Black Dungaree received R1.36m (€68,000), while Charles Malatji received R200,000 (€10,000), with approximately R900,000 (€45,000) used to acquire property in Bassonia. The SIU said the women’s soccer clinic project was never implemented. Makwela, as director of Zibsiflo NPC, also admitted misuse, signed an AOD and repaid the full R1.71m (€86,000).
SIU lottery probe and enforcement
The SIU said the recoveries form part of its wider probe into maladministration and corruption at the NLC under Proclamation R32 of 2020, authorised by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The SIU said: “This recovery demonstrates the SIU’s commitment to protecting public funds. Money meant to empower communities was instead diverted into private enrichment schemes.” It added that the cases highlighted “a co-ordinated scheme in which public funds meant for community upliftment were diverted into private pockets”.
The case drew wider public attention after Arena Holdings placed Sunday Times editor Makhudu Sefara on special leave, following media reports by Business Day and other South African outlets that highlighted the SIU’s findings that Unscripted Communication had received R550,000 (€28,000) from the Todi Media grant.
The SIU stressed that repayment and settlement agreements do not remove criminal liability and do not prevent referral of evidence to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). It is also authorised to initiate civil proceedings in the High Court or the Special Tribunal to recover financial losses suffered by the state.
The SIU’s latest recoveries reinforce continued confidence in how lottery grants are monitored, with stronger enforcement helping protect funding intended for communities in need across South Africa’s lottery system.
