Pretoria – The Pretoria Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) has attached four properties and frozen two bank accounts belonging to Brigadier Ngoy Timothee Makwamba, on suspicion of R43 million fraud.
Brigadier Ngoy was assigned by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as a Defence Attache’ to South Africa.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Gauteng Spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana on Tuesday said the preservation order was prompted by a criminal case of fraud and theft opened by the DRC against Brigadier Ngoy.
Mahanjana said the AFU secured a preservation order of over R 43 million at the High Court in Pretoria on 11 March 2024.
The order was to preserve four properties and two bank accounts belonging to Brigadier Ngoy as listed below:
- Nedbank account number 1129721604 in the name of the Defence Office of the Democratic Republic of Congo Embassy (there is R35 000 000 frozen as per the preservation order in this account).
- Nedbank Investment account number 690771369996 is also in the name of the Defence Office Democratic Republic Congo Embassy (there is R224 765.38 frozen as per the preservation order in this account).
- The property known as 26 Beverley Hill Crescent, Centurion Golf Estate, Gauteng Province, and held in the name of Ngoy Timothee Makwamba.
- The property known as The Falcons situated at Eastwood 2, Erf 3 Kilberry, Pretoria, Gauteng Province and held in the names of Ngoy Timothee Makwamba, Milleno Timothee Ngoy, and Ngoie Glo-Glo Gloria.
- ERF 408, Northcliff extension 2 Township, also known as 227 Acacia Road, Northcliff, Johannesburg, Gauteng Province and registered in the name of Bokomo Bokondo; and
- Unit 2, Hokaai Sectional Scheme, 786 Arcadia Street, Pretoria, Gauteng Province registered in the names of Mr. Eustache Monga and Ms. Nkulu Julie Kilumba.
Mahanjana said one of the duties assigned to Brigadier Ngoy by the Ministry of Defence of the DRC was to purchase weapons from the Denel Group in South Africa.
The DRC embassy then made a payment of R49,6 million to the Denel group.
“However, the Denel Group could not process the order and arranged to pay back the money to the DRC embassy,” explained Mahanjana.
“In December 2022, the DRC government terminated Brigadier Ngoy’s contract and was no longer mandated to represent the country.
“Instead, Brigadier Ngoy fraudulently and unlawfully represented himself to Denel as the delegated representative of DRC.
“He was still a signatory of the Defence account of the DRC and had the authority to instruct them on where to make the refund payment.”
Brigadier Ngoy provided the Denel Group with bank account details belonging to Johan van Heerden Attorneys, where the Denel Group paid the refund of R49.6 million on 13 April 2023.
Once Johan van Heerden Attorneys received the funds, the funds were then transferred to the two bank accounts mentioned above.
Allegations are that Brigadier Ngoy used the money to purchase properties in South Africa, which he registered under his and his children’s names, Milleno Timothee Ngoy and Ngoie Glo-Glo Gloria and other persons from the DRC.
“Investigations by the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) revealed the flow of funds which led to the identification of two bank accounts,” said Mahanjana.
“After obtaining the preservation order, on 2 April 2024, the Sheriff accompanied by the Curator Bonis as well as representatives of AFU attended to the four properties to serve the preservation.
“The four properties are now placed under the control of Curator Bonis. The next step is to apply for the final forfeiture order.
“After obtaining the final forfeiture order the properties will be sold at a public auction and the money returned to the DRC.”
Mahanjana said this preservation order was part of the implementation of the AFU’s recovery strategy to claim the proceeds of crime back to the state.
“The overall National Anti-Corruption strategy by law enforcement agencies is to strengthen the fight against corruption by pursuing both civil and criminal processes to ensure that impunity is no longer a given,” explained Mahanjana.
