Did you really need three blue Lamborghinis? Social media baffled after SIU's high-octane raid
Some of the vehicles seized from the Sandton home of Hangwani Maumela by the Special Investigating Unit.
Image: SIU/ X
In a scene that could have been lifted straight from a Hollywood movie, the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) swooped on the Sandton mansion of tenderpreneur Hangwani Maumela on Thursday, seizing a jaw-dropping array of luxury assets — including three identical blue Lamborghinis.
The raid is part of a wider investigation into alleged irregular tenders at Tembisa Hospital, where over R2 billion in public funds were reportedly misappropriated. According to the SIU, the operation forms part of a larger R820 million asset recovery drive, targeting businesspeople suspected of benefiting from inflated or fraudulent procurement contracts at the hospital.
One of the luxury Lamborghinis seized in the raid.
Image: Supplied / SIU
Aside from the flashy Lamborghinis, authorities confiscated designer furniture, expensive artwork, and other high-end property from Maumela’s residence.
IOL previously reported that these assets were considered part of the ill-gotten gains linked to the Tembisa Hospital scandal.
Social media users had a field day reacting to the three identical Lamborghinis.
“Because one blue Lamborghini just isn’t enough?” one X user quipped. Another joked, “Is there a secret blue Lamborghini club I don’t know about?”
Even amid a serious investigation into public corruption, the sight of the luxury cars being towed away provided a moment of levity — and a lot of online chatter.
Authorities say the investigation is ongoing, with the SIU committed to recovering more assets tied to the Tembisa Hospital scandal. Meanwhile, the images of three gleaming blue Lamborghinis parked side by side have left many South Africans scratching their heads — and laughing.
For those keeping score: one hospital scandal, billions in alleged looted funds, and three identical blue Lamborghinis later, it seems even high-stakes corruption investigations can come with a touch of absurd glamour.
On Thursday, IOL reported that Maumela and two other businessmen, Vusimuzi Matlala, Rudolph Mazibuko were among those named by the SIU as having benefitted through various irregular tenders at the hospital.
Maumela, is President Cyril Ramaphosa's nephew from a previous marriage.
In August, the Assets Forfeiture Unit raided Maumela and Mazibuko’s properties valued at approximately R326 million and R47 million, respectively.
Gauteng Department of Health's chief accounting officer Babita Deokaran was assassinated on August 23, 2021, after exposing the corruption at Tembisa Hospital.
Last month, IOL reported that the SIU has unearthed wholesale looting at the Tembisa Hospital, following an intense investigation into allegations of corruption and maladministration at the public facility.
SIU head, Advocate Andy Mothibi, led the briefing and release of the interim report, joined by Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, and Gauteng MEC for Health Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko.
"We can reveal today, through the SIU investigation, that evidence has revealed a number of maldistribution and other public procurement irregularities. This indeed will be described as a devastating plunder of the public funds, which we found in our probe. The investigation has uncovered, up to date, three coordinated syndicates responsible for the loss of over R2 billion," said Mothibi.
He said when the investigation commenced, at the instance of Gauteng premier's office back in 2022, around R850 million was believed to have vanished.
"This staggering sum of money intended for the provision of healthcare at Tembisa Hospital to take care of the most vulnerable was instead ruthlessly siphoned off through a complex web of fraud and corruption, representing an egregious betrayal of the public trust," said Mothibi.
jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za
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