Former NLC Executive Unsuccessful in Bid to Secure R1.7m Pension
The former chief risk officer of the National Lotteries Commission (NLC), Marubini Ramatsekisa, has failed in his attempt to overturn a Special Tribunal order that restricts access to his pension funds.
This order was initially issued in December 2023 amid allegations that Ramatsekisa devised a scheme leading to a loss of approximately R4 million for the NLC. He had been suspended in September 2022 and later resigned from his position.
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Ramatsekisa sought to overturn this order, asserting it was requested “erroneously” and issued without his knowledge.
However, Judge David Makhoba from the Special Tribunal has rejected his application and upheld the interdict in favor of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU).
Additionally, Judge Makhoba mandated that Ramatsekisa bear the costs of this application.
In the latest ruling, he noted that the SIU successfully obtained a preservation order for the pension benefit of approximately R1.7 million held by Liberty Life as a result of an ex parte (without notifying the other party) application.
The interdict was based on evidence that Ramatsekisa had caused the NLC a loss totaling R4 million.
‘Proactive funding’
It was alleged that Ramatsekisa drafted a proposal for “proactive funding” to support a study aimed at the development of the Khoisan language.
This funding of R4 million was awarded to a company named Zibsicraft.
The SIU claims that Ramatsekisa misrepresented his communication with a stakeholder from the Department of Arts and Culture and failed to ensure that Zibsicraft’s funding application followed the established procedures. Furthermore, he did not verify that the individuals involved with the organization had any connections to the Khoisan community or relevant experience.
Makhoba mentioned that the SIU also alleged that Ramatsekisa employed similar tactics in awarding a R5.5 million grant for cricket development in the Northern Cape.
These funding initiatives were not properly assessed, evaluated, or adjudicated by a distributing agency but were instead dealt with by Ramatsekisa and former NLC chief operations officer Phillemon Letwaba.
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Letwaba signed the grant agreement while Ramatsekisa acted as his witness.
‘No evidence’
Ramatsekisa contended that the interdict should be reconsidered and revoked.
He argued that no evidence exists to prove collusion with the NLC to misappropriate funds, asserting that he merely performed his administrative functions, and the SIU had not established that he was an “active and willing facilitator.”
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Evidence …
Judge Makhoba stated that he considered the evidence from the SIU application “from scratch.” The key question was whether the SIU made a compelling case for the interdict obtained in the ex parte hearing.
He noted there were “shortcomings” in how Ramatsekisa managed the funding for the Zibsicraft project.
Zibsicraft lacked credible financial statements, standard procedures were bypassed, and the alleged connection to the “Khoisan community” was nonexistent.
“The evidence presented indicates that the grant funds were not utilized for their intended purpose, supporting a prima facie case that the applicant facilitated the unlawful grant allocations. He did not challenge the factual claims against him,” Judge Makhoba remarked.
Funds diverted, says SIU
SIU spokesman Kaizer Kganyago indicated that the original interdict was obtained “swiftly” after Ramatsekisa’s resignation and his subsequent notice to his pension fund administrator regarding his intent to withdraw his pension benefits.
According to the allegations, shortly after the proactive funding was sanctioned for the Khoisan project, three individuals became directors of Zibsicraft, a previously dormant company.
Just ten days later, the organization submitted a grant application.
“The application included financial statements dated February 28, 2018, and February 28, 2019. However, Zibsicraft only opened a bank account on March 19, 2019, six days prior to the funding application,” Kganyago explained.
He added, “Of the R4 million, R2.2 million allegedly funded the purchase of property for a church named the Higher Grace Christ Redeemer Church.”
The former NLC Board Chairperson, Alfred Nevhutanda, along with his wife, represented the church in the purchase offer.
Furthermore, Kganyago stated that the SIU plans to initiate civil proceedings against Ramatsekisa to recover damages incurred by the NLC due to his actions.
© 2025 GroundUp. This article was first published here.
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