subscribe Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Subscribe now
Former lotteries commission COO Philemon Letwaba's pension benefits valued at R2.8m have been frozen. Picture: SUPPLIED
Former lotteries commission COO Philemon Letwaba's pension benefits valued at R2.8m have been frozen. Picture: SUPPLIED

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has frozen the pension benefits of Philemon Letwaba, former COO of the National Lotteries Commission (NLC).

A preservation order from the Special Tribunal interdicts the Liberty Group, as the pension administrator, from paying out R2.8m in benefits due to Letwaba, pending a pending a case against him.

The SIU had approached the tribunal after Letwaba resigned from the NLC pending a disciplinary hearing on allegations that he personally benefited from funds that the NLC had distributed to non-profit organisations, said SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago.

An investigation by the SIU found that Letwaba allegedly used family and friends to siphon funds that the NLC had designated for non-profit organisations (NPOs).

In one of several NLC-funded projects investigated by the SIU, Kganyago said it was found that a Limpopo-based NPO received about R25m for the refurbishment of a school in Vuwani.

Twelve days after receiving the money, the NPO allegedly transferred about R4m to one of the companies linked to Letwaba without evidence of work being done and in violation of the funding agreement.

TimesLIVE

subscribe Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Subscribe now

Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.