‘Why is SIU going after artists before cleaning up the lottery office?’ asks actor Fana Mokoena

Actor and EFF member Fana Mokoena has questioned why the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is probing artists implicated in alleged National Lotteries Commission (NLC) fraud before doing a “thorough cleanup” of the commission's office.

Mokoena said lottery officials who allegedly grant dodgy funds and make no follow-ups should have been the first to be nabbed. 

Lottery officials who resigned include former NLC commissioner Thabang Mampane and former COO Phillemon Letwaba, both facing disciplinary hearings involving lottery funds, GroundUp reported. 

“Now we’re told all of them have resigned. Go catch them,” said Mokoena. 

“As this lottery office investigation unfolds, more rot will unfold and implicate serious office-bearers. We wait patiently for a proper investigation to be conducted into that office.”

Mokeona said artists should not allow the ANC to corrupt them with allegedly dodgy deals.

“We meet artists every day who have clearly concocted deals with ANC officials who work for funding bodies promising them funds. Don't do it. Stay away from these ANC crooks. The corruption runs to the highest office,” he said. 

Mokoena’s comments come after musician and producer Arthur Mafokate and others were named in the alleged NLC fraud last week. 

Mafokate is allegedly involved in the misappropriation of R56m in community development funds from the NLC.

The National Prosecuting Authority’s Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) and the SIU obtained a preservation order from the high court in Pretoria to freeze three luxury properties, a plot and a portion of a farm linked to the alleged misappropriation of a lottery grant fund meant for community development projects.

Other celebrities implicated in lottery money scandals include former Tsotsi actor Presley Chweneyagae and co-star Terry Pheto. 

Chweneyagae allegedly benefited from his close relationship with some members of the commission's former executive and board through a R15m grant.

The SIU obtained a high court preservation order to freeze nine luxury properties in Gauteng, a BMW 420i and two Ocean Basket franchises on the East Rand linked to Pheto.

Pheto denied fraud allegations levelled against her.

“I deny any involvement in the alleged scheme that has been reported on. I also had no prior knowledge of an application to obtain a preservation order against me and have no sight of this order,” she said.