Special Tribunal directs SASCOC, CFO Vinesh Maharaj and related parties to return R25 million in NLC funds

The SIU has secured a Special Tribunal order directing SASCOC and related parties to repay nearly R25 million diverted from a National Lotteries Commission grant linked to the Mshandukani Foundation and several beneficiaries.

THE Special Investigating Unit (SIU) secured a Special Tribunal order directing SASCOC, its former CFO, Vinesh Maharaj, and related parties, to return nearly R25 million that was unlawfully diverted from a National Lotteries Commission (NLC) grant, impacting several beneficiaries, including media personality Minnie Dlamini.

In a statement on June 26, the SIU confirmed it had secured a judgment from the Special Tribunal.

The tribunal ordered SASCOC (South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee) and several associated parties to repay almost R25 million unlawfully diverted from an NLC grant.

SIU spokesperson Selby Makgotho said the tribunal declared the R24,98 million payment made by the NLC to SASCOC unlawful, set it aside, and found that misrepresentation, maladministration, and unlawful enrichment had tainted the grant.