Bellville Court Tackles SA Heritage Fraud Case: Millions Allegedly Squandered

The Bellville Specialised Commercial Crime Court was the scene of a significant legal development on 07 August 2024 when 51-year-old Nazima Hassim and her company, Boikgafo Multi-Projects, made a brief appearance. Charged with corruption and money laundering, Hassim's case sheds light on a broader scandal involving gross financial mismanagement of a South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) funded project.

In 2010-2011, SAHRA, under the Department of Arts and Culture, was granted funds to carry out a flagship initiative intended to honor the contributions of South African figures. This project, tied to South Africa’s 20 years of democracy and marking 100 years since World War I, focused on upgrading burial sites like the Delville Wood Memorial and Museum in France.

With a committed R29 million budget split between foreign and domestic grave projects, the execution of this plan fell to Anix Consulting CC, led by CEO Rhiyaan Cupido. In the ensuing years, subcontractor Boikgafo Multi-Projects undertook memorials in Polokwane. However, expenses skyrocketed to R53 million, leading to an investigation by the Hawks in 2017.

The case unveiled that the proper procurement processes were blatantly disregarded, thus raising serious questions about the quality of the work completed. Eight individuals, along with two companies, are accused of defrauding SAHRA. They include former SAHRA CEO Veliswa Baduza, CFO Catherine Motsisi, Chairperson Fani Aaron Makhanya, Anix Consulting's Rhiyaan Cupido and his wife Weedad Cupido, and their enterprise.

October 2023 saw the majority of the accused stand before the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court facing a litany of charges: fraud, theft, and violating the Public Finance Management Act. In a related charge, an individual named Mark Gabriel faced fraud and theft allegations.

Nazima Hassim's day in court culminated with her release on warning; her case adjourned to 29 September 2024 to secure legal representation. The trajectory of this case promises to converge with her co-accused on 18 October 2024, as the court assembles a comprehensive view of the alleged misconduct that cost the nation millions and, more importantly, tainted efforts to preserve its heritage.