The Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has seized assets worth R326 million from Hangwani Morgan Maumela, the alleged mastermind of a syndicate that defrauded Tembisa Hospital.
Maumela, a nephew by marriage to President Cyril Ramaphosa, had a fleet of luxury cars including four Lamborghinis and a Bentley upscale homes, and even a party boat frozen under High Court preservation orders issued on August 14, 2025.
The AFU’s action also targets 14 companies linked to Maumela, which allegedly secured over R400 million in hospital contracts through manipulated procurement between 2019 and 2021.
Investigations by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) revealed a network of fraud involving forged documents and favoritism toward Maumela’s companies, which operated from a single Sandton address despite claiming legitimacy in medical supply provision.
The scandal first emerged in 2021 after Gauteng Health Department accountant Babita Deokaran raised alarms over suspicious tenders shortly before her assassination. The syndicate’s actions contributed to an estimated R2.3 billion in losses at the hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic.
NPA spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane described the seizures as a “decisive blow against corruption,” with the assets set to be forfeited to the state pending criminal proceedings. Civil society groups, including the EFF, welcomed the move but urged swift arrests to prevent further cover-ups.
The case highlights entrenched corruption in South Africa’s public health sector, with Maumela’s downfall sending a clear message that accountability can reach even the most connected individuals.
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