Cape Town – Mervyn Casterns, the CEO of Pulling and Sharing Joint Venture (PSJV), has appeared in court for fraud and Contravention of the Diamond Act.
Casterns, whose matter emanates from the findings of the Zondo Commission Inquiry into State Capture, was arrested on Thursday 26 June 2025.
The PSJV CEO appeared before the Belville Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 27 June 2025 on charges of fraud and contravention of the Diamond Act.
However, Carstens’ matter has since been transferred from Belville to Palm-Ridge Magistrate’s Court, where he is scheduled to appear on 30 June 2025.
On the same day, Friday 27 June, more than a thousand km away, co-accused Daniel Nathan, Kubentheran Moodley, and Martha Rapetsoa were arrested and brought before the Palm-Ridge Magistrate’s Court, in Gauteng, on the same charges.
Nathan was granted R100 000 bail.
Moodley and Rapetsoa were each granted R30 000 bail.
Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) Spokesperson Henry Mamothame said strict bail conditions were imposed, and the accused were ordered to report to their nearest police station once a week and hand over their passports to the investigating officer.
Mamothame said the court appearances emanate from the contract awarded in 2015 to Scarlet Sky Investments 60 (SSI).
The contract gave it exclusive rights to market and sell the diamonds produced by the PSJV, a joint venture between Alexkor and the Richtersveld community.
“The accused allegedly acquired diamonds, which they sold for more than what SSI was entitled to in terms of the contract,” Mamothame said.
It is alleged that several individuals and affiliated companies through the marketing tender acquired diamonds from sales conducted by Scarlet Sky for and on behalf of the PSJV for more than five years.
Mamothame said the Alexkor investigation conducted by the National Prosecuting Authority’s IDAC emanates from the findings of the Commission of Inquiry into allegations of State Capture, Corruption, and Fraud in the Public Sector Including organs of State.
