Zim man's R1.5m forfeited by SA for failing to acc...

Zim man's R1.5m forfeited by SA for failing to account

Confidence in rand plummets | The Chronicle

Zim Now Writer

A Zimbabwean man will have R1.4 million and a vehicle found in his possession forfeited by the South African Government after he failed to satisfactorily explain the source of origin of the huge sum that was found on his person.

On November 26, 2021, Tafadzwa Muyambo was arrested at a roadblock near Kroonstad by two SAPS officers who went on to search the boot of his car and found two bags containing the cash. He could not explain the origin of the money then.

The National Director Of Public Prosecutions' (NDPP) Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) in the Free State has since secured a preservation order against Muyambo to forfeit both the Volkwagen Polo he was driving and the cash.

After the NDPP had filed an application for forfeiture, Muyambo argued he was a major shareholder and a director of Nyaboko Trading (Pty) Ltd, a company duly incorporated in terms of the Companies Act of Zimbabwe with its main place of business situated at Stand 17094, Damofalls Park, Zimbabwe.

Although a citizen of Zimbabwe, he resided with his family in Virginia, Free State, where he owned immovable property.

But Phaladi Shuping, provincial spokesperson of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), said the Free State High Court granted the AFU the order on the basis that the cash and the vehicle were found to be proceeds of crime.

"Muyambo told the police that he got the money from selling gold illegally. However, in his opposing application in court, his explanation was that the money was from a business partner who gave him R1.5 million earlier that day in Parys for operational costs as part of the transport business.

“State Prosecutor Adv. Lize van Dyk requested the court to reject Muyambo's version because he was arrested early in the morning and that would mean he received the money out of official business hours," said Shuping.

The High Court found that the circumstances surrounding the route that the money travelled were quite peculiar.

Shuping said the court concluded that the money was the proceeds of unlawful activities, and the R500 000 was an attempt to bribe the officers. Shuping said the total amount was R1 399 900.

"The officers rejected Muyambo's offer of R500 000, and he was arrested, the vehicle and the money were seized," he said.

The money will be deposited into the Criminal Asset Recovery Account (CARA) and the vehicle will be sold at the auction with the proceeds thereof used to strengthen the fight against crime. Muyambo's criminal trial is being heard in the Kroonstad Magistrate's Court.