The luxury Pretoria home of late Tsotsi actor Presley Chweneyagae has been placed under a state freeze following a court order obtained by South Africa’s Special Investigating Unit (SIU), amid allegations that the property was purchased using funds meant for charitable youth development programmes.
The preservation order, granted by Judge M Victor of the Special Tribunal on 18 December 2025, prohibits the sale, transfer or any form of disposal of the Hesteapark residence, valued at approximately R889,000 (about US$47,600). The ruling effectively secures the property while investigations continue into the alleged misuse of millions of rand allocated by the National Lotteries Commission (NLC).
At the centre of the case is a R15 million (approximately US$804,000) NLC grant that was earmarked for youth arts development initiatives under the Southern African Youth Movement, a registered non-profit organisation. According to the SIU, the funds were intended to uplift young people through arts and cultural programmes but were instead allegedly diverted for private benefit.
Investigators claim that a portion of the grant money was channelled through Domestic Baboon (Pty) Ltd, a company solely owned by the late Chweneyagae. It is alleged that approximately R889,000 from these funds was used to purchase the actor’s private home in Hesteapark, Pretoria. The SIU contends that this transaction constituted an unlawful benefit derived from public funds meant for charitable purposes.
Court Freezes Presley Chweneyagae’s R889k Property in Missing Charity Funds Case
Court documents indicate that the Southern African Youth Movement NPO, represented by Mr Alfred Muzwakhe Sigudla, was the original recipient of the grant. However, the SIU alleges that the organisation failed to utilise the funds for their intended purpose and instead allowed them to be routed through Domestic Baboon (Pty) Ltd. The money was then allegedly applied toward the acquisition of the residential property.
The preservation order names Ms Charlaine Christinah Chweneyagae as a respondent, both in her personal capacity and as the executrix of her late husband’s estate. Also cited are Mr Sigudla and the Southern African Youth Movement NPO. The inclusion of the estate underscores the SIU’s intention to ensure that any assets suspected to have been unlawfully acquired are preserved pending possible recovery by the state.
Under the terms of the order, the SIU is now required to institute civil recovery proceedings within 60 court days. These proceedings will seek to formally recover the funds or assets allegedly obtained through the improper use of the NLC grant. Failure to initiate such action within the stipulated timeframe could result in the preservation order lapsing.
The investigation forms part of a broader probe into alleged maladministration, corruption and misuse of funds linked to the National Lotteries Commission. The SIU’s work is conducted under a presidential proclamation authorised by President Cyril Ramaphosa, empowering the unit to probe the allocation and utilisation of NLC grants awarded to various organisations.
In a statement, the SIU said its primary mandate is to recover funds lost through unlawful activities and to ensure accountability in the use of public money. “The primary mission of the SIU is to recover proceeds from beneficiaries of NLC grant funding who are involved in unlawful activities, thereby restoring the State’s financial losses,” the unit said.
The SIU also confirmed that should evidence of criminal conduct emerge during its investigation, such information will be referred to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for further action. This could potentially open the door to criminal charges against individuals implicated in the alleged misuse of funds, depending on the outcome of prosecutorial assessments.
Chweneyagae, who rose to international fame for his role in the Oscar-winning film Tsotsi, was widely celebrated for his acting career and contribution to South African cinema. However, the current developments cast a shadow over his legacy, raising uncomfortable questions about governance, oversight and accountability in the administration of charitable funding.
As the investigation continues, the preservation of the property ensures that any potential recovery remains possible should the SIU succeed in proving that public funds were unlawfully diverted. The case adds to growing scrutiny of NLC-funded projects and reinforces calls for tighter controls and transparency in the management of grants intended to benefit vulnerable communities.
