By Everson Luhanga
Brigadier Ngoy Timothee Makwamba, who was assigned by the Democratic Republic of Congo’s defence ministry to purchase weapons from the Denel Group in South Africa, defrauded his government of R49.6-million.
Makwamba used the money to buy four mansions and registered the luxurious properties to himself, his two children and three other people.
The asset forfeiture unit of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in Pretoria secured a preservation order for more than R43-million of the stolen money at the Pretoria High Court on 11 March.
NPA regional spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said the order is to preserve the four properties and two bank accounts belonging to Makwamba, who was assigned by the DRC as a defence attache to South Africa.
“The two bank accounts contained R35-million and R224,765.38 respectively, which were both frozen by the authorities,” she said.
Mahanjana said that investigations into the matter emanate from a criminal case of fraud and theft opened by the DRC against Makwamba.
“One of the duties assigned to him by the DRC was to purchase weapons from the Denel Group.
“The DRC embassy then made a payment of R49.6-million to the Denel group. However, the Denel Group could not process the order and arranged to pay back the money to the DRC embassy,” said Mahanjana.
The DRC government terminated Makwamba’s contract in December 2022 and he was no longer mandated to represent the country.
“Instead, [he] fraudulently and unlawfully represented himself to Denel as the delegated representative of DRC. He was still a signatory of the defence account of the DRC and had the authority to instruct them where to make the refund payment,” Mahanjana said.
“Brigadier Makwamba then provided the Denel Group with bank account details belonging to Johan van Heerden Attorneys, where the Denel Group paid the refund of R49.6-million on 13 April 2023.”
After the attorneys received the funds they were transferred to two bank accounts and the money was then used to purchase the four properties
Makwamba bought one property in Centurion Golf Estate. A second property registered to him and his children, Milleno Ngoy and Ngoy Glo-Glo Gloria, was at The Falcons in Eastwood, Pretoria.
Another property in a Hokaai sectional title scheme, Pretoria, was registered in the names of Eustache Monga and Nkulu Kilumba.
The fourth house, in Northcliff, Johannesburg, was registered to Bokomo Bokondo.
“After obtaining the final forfeiture order the properties will be sold at a public auction and the money returned to the DRC,” Mahanjana said.
Pictured above: One of the luxury houses bought with money meant for weapons.
Source: Supplied
