Latest news with #SaneleDlamini
The Herald
24-06-2025
- Politics
- The Herald
Special Tribunal interdicts payment of pension fund to former NLC manager
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has secured an interim interdict preventing a former senior manager at the National Lotteries Commission (NLC) from withdrawing his pension benefits pending the outcome of ongoing litigation. The interdict, granted by the Special Tribunal on June 10, bars Sanele Dlamini from accessing his pension benefits until the SIU's main case, a civil recovery action tied to the misallocation of R6m in NLC grant funds, is concluded. The tribunal directed Liberty's Corporate Selection Umbrella Retirement Fund to assess and disclose the value of Dlamini's pension within 60 days. 'This preservation is intended to ensure that funds remain available for potential recovery should the SIU succeed in its claim', SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said. Dlamini, who held several senior positions at the NLC, including provincial manager for KwaZulu-Natal, senior manager: grant operations and acting COO, was found guilty on four of six disciplinary charges related to misconduct during his tenure. 'The charges included approving falsified progress reports, as well as gross negligence and dereliction of duty. His dismissal was finalised on October 4 2024 after the disciplinary process.' Kganyago said the SIU's investigation revealed that the NLC-funded project — a sports complex — was never initiated, and supporting documents, including progress reports and financial statements, were falsified. Dlamini, who facilitated the irregular disbursement of R3m to the Motheo Sports and Entertainment Foundation, cosigned the fraudulent progress report without verifying the site or documentation, enabling the unlawful payout. Kganyago said the SIU pursued a preservation order to limit the risk of a 'hollow judgment' if funds were released, noting concerns that Dlamini might lack sufficient assets to satisfy future claims. TimesLIVE
The Citizen
24-06-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Lottery corruption: SIU granted order against pension of former NLC official
A former National Lotteries Commission COO is linked to a R6 million payment for a sports facility that was never built. A court has granted a Special Investigating Unit (SIU) request to prevent a senior National Lotteries Commission official from accessing their pension. The order resulted from the SIU's investigation into a R6 million payment made to a sports foundation based in Soweto. This matter is part of a larger SIU investigation into potentially irregular NLC payments exceeding R1 billion. R6 million wasted Former NLC COO Sanele Dlamini was dismissed in November after being linked to an irregular lotto grant payment. The order granted to the SIU prevents Dlamini from accessing his pension as a way of recovering a portion of the payment made to the sports foundation. Motheo Sports and Entertainment Foundation received millions from the NLC for a sports facility that was never built. '[The order] limits the risk of a hollow judgment if funds were released, noting concerns that Mr Dlamini may lack sufficient assets to satisfy future claims,' stated the SIU. Motheo was given R6 million towards the failed facility, and Dlamini's retirement fund has been given 60 days to disclose the value of his pension. 'This preservation is intended to ensure that funds remain available for potential recovery should the SIU succeed in its claim,' the entity concluded. SIU recovery efforts The order against Dlamini is just one facet of a larger investigation that is set to conclude by the end of the year. As of May 2025, R9.5 million had been recovered by the SIU, but phase three of the investigation will target matters worth a combined R900 million. Phase one of the NLC investigation scrutinised payments totalling roughly R279 million, while phase two had an estimated payment value of R246 million. The NLC is in the midst of a period of transition as parties vie for the licence to operate the nation's lottery processes. The NLC awarded the lottery licence to a new service provider at the end of May, but also granted the existing operators a 12-month temporary licence to facilitate a smooth transition. NOW READ: Lotto: Retailers complain as Ithuba claims 'seamless transition'
IOL News
18-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Pension freeze for former NLC official amid serious fraud allegations
The pension fund of former National Lotteries Commission senior manager Sanele Dlamini was frozen. Image: File Former National Lotteries Commission (NLC) official, Sanele Dlamini, has been interdicted from cashing in on his pension, pending the outcome of the Special Investigating Unit's (SIU) investigation into allegations that he improperly authorised the payment of R3 million towards a project which never materialised. The SIU turned to the Special Tribunal to freeze Dlamini's retirement fund, which is due to be paid to him. Dlamini is a former senior manager of the grant operations of the NLC. The SIU is litigating on behalf of the commission to recover losses that it suffered as a result of irregular and unlawful practices. The SIU said it believes that Dlamini may be 'a man of straw', and if its investigations reveal any wrongdoing on his part, they will at least be able to recover the NLC money from his pension fund. The NLC had awarded the Motheo Sports Foundation a grant of R9 million for the construction of a sports complex. The first payment made was nearly R3.6 million. The SIU investigation revealed that this amount was not used for the funded project but was instead shared among several people and/or entities as an undue gratification. It was alleged that Dlamini authorised the payment of the money based on falsified progress reports, despite no work being done on the funded project. Investigations revealed that the land was used as a dumping site. A disciplinary inquiry subsequently found Dlamini guilty of gross negligence and misconduct, and he was dismissed. The SIU now seeks to preserve Dlamini's pension fund at Liberty Life Insurance, pending the outcome of a review application to recover the funds. Dlamini, in opposing the application, said it is clear that the sports foundation received the funds and not him. He was not part of any fraud or scheme to siphon off money from the NLC. He was not present when the project was approved. At that stage, he was the provincial manager for the KwaZulu-Natal office of the NLC. He asserted that he unfairly attracted blame for this entire saga for simply approving a payment of R3 million to the Motheo Foundation. He argued that the money must be recovered from the principal debtors, being the persons and entities who received the NLC money. Therefore, he should not be held liable. Dlamini said he based his approval of the progress report, the financial report, and visuals showing the site and work in progress. He stated that he was the victim of the fraud, as also the NLC.
