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0 Real name Moitheri Terry Pheto stunned South Africans in late 2022 when news brokeof her alleged involvement in the defrauding of the National Lottery.
The actress finds herself in the cross-hairs of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) after it was revealed that she was involved in the siphoning of funds from the National Lotteries Commission (NLC).
The SIU has launched a series of investigations of late into the assets of celebrities and individuals who were believed to have used NLC grant funding as their personal payday.
It is rumoured that the funds in question were meant for a roll-out for a public health campaign when they were misappropriated by said individuals identified as actress Terry Pheto, former board chairperson Alfred Nevhutanda, kwaito singer Arthur Mafokate, William Huma, and the NLC’s very own former chief operating officer, Phillemon Letwaba, amongst others.
In attempts to recover funds and financial losses, the SUI has zeroed-in on a web of corruption and seized properties, including high-end vehicles such as a Mercedes-Benz AMGs and the three-story home own by the Tsotsi star.
Tracking a trail of events that begin in May of 2017, a non-profit organisation, Zibsimode NPC, applied and received grant funding to the sum of R20 million. The funding was for the roll-out of medical intervention projects and public campaigns, with the nature of the campaigns aimed at achieving healthy and safe traditional circumcision.
Of the odd R16 million paid into the Zibsimode bank account, R3 million was transferred to a law firm mandating contractual matters of a construction and development company. Said construction company then purchased land for residential development in Bryanston valued just above R1 million and approached Terry to purchase the property. Terry bought the home for R5 million total with the transfer at the Pretoria Deeds Office coming a little while later.
Following a preservation order granted by the Hight Court of South Africa to the Asset Forfeiture Unit and the SUI to freeze the multi-million-rand property, Pheto’s Bryanston home was auctioned yesterday (Thursday 2 March) and – to everyone’s surprise – yielded no bidders.
Terry Pheto’s house auctioned off – but no buyers
The luxurious triple story, three bedroomed home valued at over R5 million, opened at a bid of R4 million with no takers, and ultimately saw auctioneers closing the day off at just above R2.5 million, without buyers.
Rumour has it that focus shifted to the 22 buyers who logged in for the online auction after buyers were a no-show at the upper-class property, with only SUI officials at the home.
Spokesperson of the SUI, Kaizer Kganyago mentioned that the probable cause for a lack of buyers was that those present may feel intimidated by the media and wish not to be affiliated with the scandal. He further mentioned that investigations were still ongoing and that Terry Pheto’s purchase of the home in connection to the case was only one part of the very large unfolding investigation.
Despite these allegations, Terry Pheto has kept her distance on social media and has only made mention of her challenges during this time and that she continues to cooperate fully with the investigation.
