The High Court of South Africa, Limpopo Division, Polokwane granted the Asset forfeiture Unit of the NPA (AFU) a preservation order to freeze bank accounts of Emanuel Matome Sefalafala’s company, Falaz General Trading and Construction (Pty) Ltd.

1. PRESS RELEASE
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE 15 DECEMBER 2020
AFU FREEZES BANK ACCOUNTS OF LEPELLE NORTHERN WATER BOARD
SUPPLIER AFTER KIDNAP AND EXTORTION CLAIMS
The High Court of South Africa, Limpopo Division, Polokwane granted the Asset forfeiture Unit of the
NPA (AFU) a preservation order to freeze bank accounts of Emanuel Matome Sefalafala’s company,
Falaz General Trading and Construction (Pty) Ltd.
The order follows the allegations of kidnapping and extortion by Ahuiwi Netshidaulu, the Lepelle
Northern Water Board acting Chief Executive Officer. Netshidaulu was appointed to the position a
few months after the Chief Executive Officer of Lepelle, Phineas Kgahlisho Legodi, was put on
precautionary suspension by the interim board of the entity.
In 2018 the Lepelle Northern Water Board awarded a R45m tender to Falaz for the collection,
removal and disposal of hazardous waste management. Legodi was the CEO, and accounting officer
of the Lepelle Northern Water Board, at the time.
The tender was set aside by the Polokwane High Court and as a result Falaz was not entitled to
payment of the invoices the company had submitted to Lepelle for payment in terms of the unlawful
contract.
It is alleged that on 02 November 2020, Netshidaulu had discussions with Sefalafala about payment
of the balance of the invoice that was submitted on behalf of Falaz. Netshidaulu had indicated to Mr.
Sefalafala that the payment could not be made since there were pending investigations.
It is further alleged that Sefalafala promised to provide Netshidaulu with a letter confirming that the
case was closed. Later on, Sefalafala sent an email to Mr. Netshidaulu which contained a letter.
However, Netshidaulu ignored the letter because it appeared not to be legitimate.
On 13 November 2020, people purporting to be police officers from Silverton police station met with
Netshidaulu at Polokwane police station. They informed him that they had a warrant for his arrest in
relation to a case opened by Sefalafala against him at Silverton. The allegation was that Mr.
Netshidaulu had extorted money from Sefalafala for Lepelle to pay the Falaz invoice.
It is said, however, instead of producing the warrant and effect the arrest of Netshidaulu, the men
wanted to discuss the payment of the invoice and said they would not arrest him if he agreed to
meet with Sefalafala.
Indeed, Sefalafala was called into the meeting and he insisted on the payment of the invoice and
gave Netshidaulu two hours to go back to his office at Lepelle and make the payment. It appeared
later that a case docket for extortion was only opened on 15 November and closed on 18 November
2020.

2. It is alleged that on 18 November 2020, Netshidaulu was kidnapped and coerced into instructing his
staff to pay Falaz by Sefalafala. According to Netshidaulu, he was only released once Sefalafala
confirmed a receipt of payment of R 2 980 961.81 into his account.
Yesterday, Legodi, the chairperson of the Bid Evaluation Committee (BEC), Ngwako Michael
Moseamedi, and businessman, Sefalafala and his company Falaz General Trading and Construction
(Pty) Ltd, appeared briefly in the Polokwane Magistrates on allegations of tender fraud.
They were charged with fraud, alternatively theft, forgery and uttering, with Legodi facing an
additional charge of contravention of the Public Finance Management Act. The three were arrested
by the Gauteng based Organised Crime Investigating Unit and the matter is jointly investigated with
the Specialised Commercial Crimes Unit (SCCU) in Limpopo.
The arrests were in connection with the R45m tender allegedly issued fraudulently based on the
recommendations of the BEC, chaired by Moseamedi, and the Bid Adjudication Committee (BAC).
Legodi appointed Sefalafala’s company, Falaz General Trading and Construction, to render services.
According to the provisional charge sheet, Sefalafala had submitted forged documents in order to
obtain the tender.
The matter was postponed to 17 December 2020 for bail application and the accused are in custody.
ENDS
Issued by:
Sipho Ngwema
NPA National Spokesperson.
For Further Information
Contact Sipho Ngwema 081 253 8889