SIU recovers R3.2m in NLC lotto heist; exposes pattern of abuse
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has made yet another recovery of R3.2 million from two non-profit companies; Todi Media Development Foundation NPC and Zibsiflo NPC — after they unduly benefited from National Lotteries Commission (NLC) grants. Amongst those implicated is former NLC looter controversial lawyer Lesley Ramulifho and his associates.
The SIU secured R1.5 million from Todi Media Development Foundation NPC and R1.71 million from Zibsiflo NPC. The money was repaid in full after the SIU found it had been misappropriated from NLC grants meant for community development projects.
The grants
The recovery was announced publicly on 28 April 2026 via the SIU’s official X account. The grants in question were approved and disbursed between 2018 and 2020, with the civil recovery finalised in March 2026.
The funds originated from the National Lotteries Commission (NLC), South Africa’s state entity that distributes lottery proceeds to charities and non-profits. The investigations fall under the SIU’s mandate in Pretoria and have been heard before the Special Tribunal.
The NLC is funded by proceeds from the National Lottery and is required to allocate money to good causes like education, sports, arts, and social development. The SIU’s investigation, launched under Presidential Proclamation R32 of 2020, uncovered a pattern where NLC grants were diverted to “shelf” non-profits with little track record. These NPCs were then used to siphon money for personal benefit rather than for community projects. This case highlights how public funds meant for the poor were abused.
The SIU used its powers under the SIU Act to investigate, issue subpoenas, and bring civil litigation before the Special Tribunal. Instead of going straight to criminal court, the SIU first pursued civil recovery to get the money back for the state. The unit is also preparing criminal referrals to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for prosecution.
Where did it all start?
The People Implicated, While Todi Media and Zibsiflo aren’t as well-known as other NLC-linked NPCs, they sit within the same corruption ecosystem the SIU has been exposing since 2020. The key figures repeatedly linked to NLC grant fraud include Lesley Ramulifho, A lawyer who has been described as a “familiar face” at the NLC. He previously did legal work for the NLC and was involved in a dodgy R27.5-million drug rehabilitation project funded by the NLC. Ramulifho was a director of Zibsifusion NPC and Dinosys NPC — two other NPCs that received R10-million NLC grants each for sanitation projects in Limpopo and the Eastern Cape.
He resigned as a director in 2018, and his employees were then appointed in his place. Liesl Joy Moses and Tsietsi Joseph Tshabalala – Listed as directors of Zibsifusion and Dinosys. Investigations found they were employees of Ramulifho. Louisa Molebogeng Mangwagape – Another Ramulifho employee who was appointed as a director after Ramulifho resigned. Phillemon Letwaba – Former NLC Chief Operating Officer, resigned. Phillemon and his family members and associates benefited from NLC grants through companies like Ironbridge Travel Agency. His girlfriend, Melanie du Plessis, was also co-director with Daisy Letwaba, Phillemon’s wife, in a private company.
What do they do for a living
Ramulifho runs a law practice in Pretoria and has been active in legal consulting for state entities. Moses and Tshabalala have been described as administrative employees, not independent business operators. Letwaba was a senior public official at the NLC until his role became central to the corruption probe.
The bigger picture
This R3.2m recovery is small compared to the over R1.4-billion in dodgy NLC grants the SIU is currently investigating. Other high-profile cases include the purchase of a R6.3-million Rolls-Royce for former NLC board chairperson Alfred Nevhutanda and a luxury Bryanston home bought for actress Terry Pheto using lottery funds.
The SIU has said the NLC’s “proactive funding” policy which allowed the board to fund projects without applications enabled “industrial-scale looting”. The new NLC board has since placed a moratorium on this practice and started lifestyle audits for staff.
This case is one of many corruption cases under the SIU and this according to the unit shows a deeper rot in the system.
