R858m frozen in a year: how the NPA seizes assets linked to crime

The National Prosecuting Authority's Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) froze about R858 million in assets and recovered R532 million in its 2025/26 financial year. It completed 732 confiscation and forfeiture cases worth R467 million and won 99% of the cases it litigated, the NPA told Parliament's justice committee on 8 October 2026 (NPA annual report presentation).

Three recent AFU cases show how the process works, from a R178.6 million alleged drug operation to a scam victim who got his R1.7 million back.

Last updated: 21 October 2026, 17:36 SAST.

How does asset forfeiture work?

It happens in two steps under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA). First the AFU asks the High Court for a preservation order, which freezes property so it cannot be sold or moved. The NPA describes this as an interim civil remedy that "does not constitute a finding of criminal guilt against any person" (NPA).

Then the AFU applies for forfeiture. Under Chapter 6 of POCA, forfeiture is decided on a balance of probabilities and runs independently of any criminal prosecution (NPA). In practice that means the state can go after property it says is the proceeds of crime, or was used to commit it, without first getting a conviction.

What did the AFU freeze in Standerton?

Assets worth about R178.6 million that the NPA says are linked to an alleged large-scale Mandrax (methaqualone) manufacturing operation near Standerton in Mpumalanga. The Middelburg High Court granted the preservation order on 28 September 2026 (NPA).

The order covers (NPA):

• three properties: a farm and two homes
• twelve luxury vehicles, including BMWs, a Range Rover Sport and a Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG
• R3 138 730 in cash, which the NPA says was found in the boot of a car
• equipment allegedly used to make drugs

According to the NPA, a Hawks financial investigation found that several of the assets were registered in the names of relatives or associates while other people allegedly controlled or benefited from them. Two related criminal cases are before the Standerton Regional Court (NPA).

Can scam victims get their money back?

Sometimes. In the Eastern Cape, the AFU secured a forfeiture order that returned about R1.7 million to a man who lost it in an alleged investment scam. He was fully reimbursed, NPA regional spokesperson Luxolo Tyali said (IOL).

The victim was persuaded to put about R4 000 into an opportunity supposedly linked to the London Stock Exchange, then told to download apps including AnyDesk and Binance and to provide a PIN. Unauthorised transfers followed. The Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) helped trace the money, a temporary hold was placed on the receiving account, and a court confirmed it on 27 August 2026 (IOL).

In Mpumalanga, the AFU froze nine bank accounts holding about R21.55 million that was fraudulently diverted from a Middelburg company's account in May 2026. The company's financial manager had received WhatsApp messages claiming to be from the bank, then a call from someone posing as its fraud division who asked her to approve links on her phone (NPA). The FIC directed the bank to freeze the accounts, and the High Court granted a preservation order on 12 June 2026 (NPA).

How much has the AFU frozen in corruption cases?

Since 1 April 2020 the AFU has obtained 302 freezing orders in corruption-related matters, worth R10.189 billion, and R3.77 billion has been confiscated or forfeited (NPA annual report presentation). The NPA told MPs the unit needs more funding for international asset tracing and recovery (NPA annual report presentation).