By Marcus Moloko
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has moved to clarify the implications of a Special Tribunal ruling in its ongoing investigation into corruption at Gauteng’s Tembisa Hospital, following an order involving luxury vehicles linked to businessman Hangwani Morgan Maumela.
The Tribunal ordered that the five vehicles — two Aston Martins, two Ferraris and a Rolls-Royce — be temporarily returned to Omar’s Motor Den, a dealership in Mpumalanga, but only on strict conditions.
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Under the order, Omar’s Motor Den must provide security equivalent to the full market value of each vehicle to the satisfaction of the curator, and the assets remain subject to the curator’s control while the main proceedings continue.
The arrangement is intended to safeguard the value of the vehicles pending the outcome of the case.
The SIU has said the ruling does not compromise its mandate to recover public funds, contending that the vehicles have not been “lost” to the state because their value is secured under the curator arrangement while the investigation continues.
In its 2025 interim report into the allegations of fraud and corruption at the hospital, the SIU said the value of matters under investigation totalled just over R2 billion, and that it had identified three major syndicates linked to the looting.
The SIU’s interim report links one of the alleged syndicates to Maumela, saying it is reviewing 1,728 “bundles” valued at R816,560,710 and that identified assets include properties valued at R293,434,000.
ALSO READ: WATCH: SIU seizes luxury cars during raid on Hangwani Maumela’s Sandton home
The corruption was first flagged in 2021 by whistleblower Babita Deokaran, who was the Gauteng health department’s acting chief director for financial accounting. She was assassinated outside her home just weeks after reporting the suspicious payments to her superiors.
Investigators say the proceeds of the alleged looted funded Maumela’s lavish lifestyle, including luxury properties worth R293 million, a fleet of supercars, and other high-value assets.
The five disputed vehicles were seized from Omar’s Motor Den during a joint SIU and Asset Forfeiture Unit operation in October 2025. Investigators allege the dealership acted as a proxy for the syndicate, facilitating purchases at suspiciously discounted prices and keeping cars registered in its name to obscure ownership.
Judge Margie Victor of the Special Tribunal ruled that the dealership could temporarily reclaim the vehicles, citing its possession of eNatis registration documents.
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However, the Tribunal stressed that ownership questions remain unresolved and that suspicions surrounding the transactions will be tested in the main proceedings.
The matter has now been referred to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) as the SIU prepares to pursue full forfeiture proceedings.
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