Ramaphosa's nephew loses R326m in corruption crackdown

The Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has frozen assets worth R326 million belonging to Hangwani Morgan Maumela, the alleged ringleader of a syndicate that looted Tembisa Hospital through fraudulent contracts.

Maumela, who is related by marriage to President Cyril Ramaphosa, saw a fleet of luxury vehicles-including four Lamborghinis and a Bentley-upmarket homes, and even a party boat placed under High Court preservation orders issued on 14 August 2025.

The AFU's action extends to 14 companies linked to Maumela, which allegedly pocketed more than R400 million in hospital tenders between 2019 and 2021. According to investigators, the companies all operated from the same Sandton address while purporting to be legitimate medical suppliers.

Findings by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) exposed a web of fraud involving forged documents, collusion with insiders, and preferential treatment of Maumela's firms. The scheme came to light in 2021 when Gauteng Health Department accountant Babita Deokaran flagged suspicious tenders shortly before she was assassinated. Authorities believe the syndicate's activities contributed to at least R2.3 billion in losses at the hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic.

NPA spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane hailed the seizures as a "decisive blow against corruption," stressing that the frozen assets would be forfeited to the state pending criminal trials.

Civil society organisations, including the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), welcomed the move but pressed for urgent arrests to prevent evidence tampering and cover-ups.

The case underscores deep-rooted graft within South Africa's public health system, with Maumela's downfall serving as a signal that even well-connected figures can be held to account.