The Special Investigating Unit has turned its focus to Nelisiwe Mahlangu, the director of Malusi We Sizwe NPC, over allegations surrounding a R13 million grant received from the National Lotteries Commission for a farming project in Zululand.
The funding was allegedly intended to establish an agricultural project aimed at benefiting 1,900 unemployed people in Zululand. However, investigators are now probing whether the money was diverted from its intended purpose.
According to reports, in 2018, Malusi We Sizwe NPC applied for nearly R14 million in Lottery funding. At the time, the organisation’s listed directors were Sinqobile Khumalo, Margaret Sithole and Lawrence Malungwa. The organisation was later awarded R13 million.
Investigators allege that shortly after the funding was approved and paid, Nelisiwe Mahlangu was appointed as director, while the previous directors stepped down. The SIU further claims that before receiving the multi-million-rand grant, the organisation reportedly had only R100 in its bank account.
Mahlangu is now at the centre of the investigation after allegations emerged that in 2019, she purchased a house in Soshanguve for R345,000.
The SIU also alleges that R5.6 million from the Lottery grant was transferred to Trizaflo (Pty) Ltd, a company allegedly controlled by Wisane Mabundza. The company reportedly went on to purchase a R2.1 million home in Midstream Estate, Pretoria, which was registered in the name of Alfred Sigudhla.
The matter forms part of wider investigations into allegations of abuse of Lottery funds, with authorities seeking to determine whether money intended to uplift struggling communities was instead used for private enrichment.
