Cars of two Lotto witnesses torched

The intrigue around alleged corruption with the beneficiaries of the National Lotteries Commission (NLC ) deepens as it emerges that two key witnesses’ cars were torched this past week.

DA MP Mat Cuthbert called on Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Ebrahim Patel to coordinate with Police Minister Bheki Cele to ensure that all key witnesses “have their safety prioritised and their lives protected from criminal elements”.

This after he was informed on Wednesday that two key witnesses linked to an ongoing investigation into the NLC’s Denzhe Primary Care debacle were victims of arson in the past week.

“Both Ado Krige and Takalani Tshikalange had their cars set alight, with the same modus operandi employed, last week Saturday and this week on Wednesday, respectively,” he said in a statement.

“This seems to be more than a mere coincidence as they are both key witnesses in a case of NLC grant funding gone wrong, where R27.5 million, which was meant for a drug rehabilitation centre, was stolen and the associated NGO hijacked.”

Cuthbert said the two have provided sworn affidavits to the investigating team looking into the debacle, as well as three other projects per Patel’s instruction.

“While the DA does not want to preempt any outcome of the Saps and any other law enforcement agency’s work, we call on them to ensure that the investigation into these matters is expedited.”

Last month, Tshikalange and Krige confirmed to GoundUp – which first exposed graft allegations – that they were interviewed by investigators.