The Special Investigating Unit has secured preservation orders for assets belonging to Nako Mang Trading Enterprise CC after the company allegedly submitted R19 million worth of fraudulent claims to the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) under the COVID-19Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (TERS).
The claims were discovered by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) following an investigation which found that the claims were submitted over a three-year period and included misrepresented employment relationships.
“Affidavits from purported employees confirmed the company never employed them. Instead of paying workers as required, the funds were diverted into personal accounts of directors and associates.
“The SIU’s investigation revealed that Mr Nikluis Manuel, director of Nako Mang, purchased vehicles in cash immediately after UIF disbursements and retained portions of the funds as ‘commission’.
Downstream beneficiaries included Ms Khanyi Angel Nokukhanya, who received R569,920.21 from Nako Mang’s UIF proceeds, later applied towards property acquisitions.
“This pattern of layering and integration is consistent with money laundering, which disguises the unlawful origin of public funds through movable and immovable assets,” the SIU said in a statement.
The assets to be preserved are:
• Two residential properties in Turffontein, Gauteng
• An agricultural holding in Union Forests Plantation Agricultural Holdings
• Toyota Dyna,
• Hyundai TQ H-1
• Mercedes-Benz W205
• Karet 1800 T Nosecone trailer
“The Special Tribunal has interdicted the respondents from selling, transferring, or encumbering these assets, and directed the Registrar of Deeds to endorse title deeds with restrictions and register caveats to prevent disposal without Tribunal approval.
“The preservation orders ensure that these assets remain secure and are not dissipated before the finalisation of civil recovery proceedings. The SIU will seek to recover losses suffered by the UIF, which amount to more than R148.4 million across multiple companies implicated in fraudulent TERS claims,” the statement continued.
The corruption busting unit vowed to hold accountable “those who unlawfully benefit from public funds” and to ensure that “monies intended for workers during the COVID-19 pandemic are recovered”.
“President Cyril Ramaphosa authorised the SIU to investigate allegations made in respect of the affairs of the Unemployment UIF in terms of Proclamation R.8 of 2021. The SIU investigated TERS payments to persons who were not entitled to receive such payments; submitted false, irregular, invalid or defective applications to the UIF, including the causes of such maladministration.
“In line with the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act 74 of 1996 (SIU Act), the SIU will refer any evidence of criminal conduct uncovered during its investigation to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for further action,” the statement concluded. – SAnews.gov.za
