Hawks Secure R1.4 Million Asset Forfeiture Order in Border Crime Case

The Hawks’ Asset Forfeiture Investigation (AFI) office in East London has emerged victorious in a big court fight after the Mthatha High Court granted an asset forfeiture order of over R1.4 million. The 7 March 2025 order includes a Toyota Hilux double cab GD6 bakkie valued at R900,000 and foreign currency amounting to over R400,000, both of which were used in the commission of an offence.

The occurrence was on 25 June 2024 when SANDF members intercepted the vehicle at the South Africa-Lesotho border in the Eastern Cape. Upon searching, three foreign nationals were found in the bakkie with an enormous cache of foreign currency. When the suspects were requested to produce legitimate passports, they were unable to do so, and their arrest followed for contravening the Immigration Act and the Currency Exchange Act.

The suspects—Mpatalile Khojoane (48), Matsepo Matse Liau (38), and Rethabile Mercury Khojoane (28)—were kept in custody until they were convicted by the Maluti Regional Court on 3 September 2024. Each was sentenced to a five-year direct imprisonment or a fine of R700,000.

Upon being convicted, a preservation order was imposed against the utilization of the confiscated vehicle pending the final forfeiture order issued this month. The bakkie confiscated will be auctioned and the proceeds deposited in the Criminal Assets Recovery Account (CARA) for state use.

The Hawks continue to tighten the noose around cross-border crimes, particularly illegal immigration and financial misconduct. The latest move is aimed at reinforcing the government’s resolve to fight organized crime and ensure proceeds of illegal business are forfeited to the state.