By Sabc

Copyright sabcnews

The High Court in Pretoria has granted the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) Asset Forfeiture Unit a forfeiture order of R144m to reclaim government land that was unlawfully transferred to individuals and business entities.

The National Prosecuting Authority’s Asset Forfeiture Unit has been granted a R144 million forfeiture order to take back land belonging to the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform. https://t.co/Nk0mJz30ft#GovZAUpdates pic.twitter.com/rdsbPNdn6v
— @SAgovnews (@SAgovnews) September 23, 2025

This after investigations by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) revealed that several government properties were fraudulently and illegally transferred from National Government to private individuals and entities. This includes a farm valued at R130m.

“The funds forfeited will be deposited into the Criminal Asset Recovery Account to ensure that proceeds of crime are redirected to the State to support the fight against crime. The stolen properties are also be returned to the State,” says NPA Spokesperson, Lumka Mahanjana.

Mahanjana says the NPA welcomes this forfeiture order which sends a strong message that individuals and entities will not be allowed to benefit unlawfully by defrauding the government.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)’s Asset Forfeiture Unit has seized R4.4 million from 24 bank accounts. It says some Chinese nationals allegedly used the bank accounts to run a fraudulent social media investment scheme. https://t.co/tSnJkW9Z5R pic.twitter.com/xqcuOmchop
— SABC News (@SABCNews) September 23, 2025