By Mapaballo Borotho
- The High Court in Johannesburg has ordered the seizure of R325 million worth of assets linked to businessman Hangwani Morgan Maumela.
- The assets are alleged to have been acquired through the defrauding of Tembisa Hospital during the Covid-19 pandemic.
- The investigation was launched following information provided by slain whistleblower Babita Deokaran.
The High Court of South Africa in Johannesburg has granted the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) a final order to seize luxury assets worth R325 million linked to Hangwani Morgan Maumela, President Cyril Ramaphosa’s nephew from his previous marriage.
Maumela is one of the businessmen accused of defrauding the embattled Tembisa Hospital during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The assets being seized were allegedly acquired through the proceeds of the fraud committed against the hospital.
The order was granted by Judge Sahida Mahomed on Monday, 20 July 2026.
Reactions from the Health and Justice departments
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has welcomed the ruling, describing it as a milestone in the process of confiscating assets belonging to individuals involved in looting funds meant for healthcare.
Motsoaledi said there are still public servants at both Tembisa Hospital and the Gauteng Department of Health who made the alleged corruption possible, and whose assets and pensions still need to be dealt with.
“We are also calling upon law enforcement agencies to complete the job through the arrest and criminal prosecution of Hangwani Maumela and his ilk. No one should be allowed to help themselves to resources which were meant for the sick – only a sick society will allow that to happen without any far-reaching and concrete repercussions,” said the minister.
Meanwhile, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kubayi described the High Court’s order as a significant outcome.
Assets seized
The order authorises the forfeiture of assets valued at approximately R325 million.
These include upmarket properties in Gauteng, Cape Town and KwaZulu-Natal, luxury vehicles, and other high-value assets allegedly acquired through the proceeds of unlawful criminal activities. The assets will now be forfeited to the State.
Where the investigation stems from
The investigation was initiated following information provided by the late whistleblower, Babita Deokaran, whose dedication to accountability came at a great personal cost.
Deokaran, a senior Gauteng health official, was assassinated on 23 August 2021 after flagging suspicious payments at Tembisa Hospital.
Her report identified companies that were benefiting from inflated and fraudulent contracts.
READ NEXT: Remembering Babita Deokaran: The whistleblower who paid the ultimate price
