- The Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg has granted a restraint order for assets worth R46 million belonging to former ANC MP Vincent Smith, including property owned by his company Euro Blitz 48, and family trust.
- The order also extends to certain property of his daughter, Brumilda.
- Smith, former chair of the National Assembly's Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services, and former Bosasa COO-turned-whistleblower Angelo Agrizzi, were arrested and charged with corruption.
The Investigating Directorate of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has obtained a restraint order for assets worth R46 million belonging to corruption-accused former ANC MP Vincent Smith, his family trust, and his daughter.
The order was handed down in the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg on 2 February.
However, the order was only served on Smith on Thursday.
Trevor Hills from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has been appointed by the court as the curator to take control of, and preserve, the assets pending the outcome of criminal proceedings.
Smith, former chair of the National Assembly's Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services, and former Bosasa COO-turned-whistleblower Angelo Agrizzi, were arrested and charged with corruption.
Smith faces additional charges of fraud for alleged payments to the value of R800 000 made to his company, Euroblitz 48, in 2015 and 2016.
The State alleges the payments were made to Smith to silence his opposition to Bosasa during parliamentary committee meetings. Smith has pleaded not guilty and maintains the money was a loan from Agrizzi, which Agrizzi denies.
The order also extends to certain property of his daughter, Brumilda Smith, and the property of any other person or entity that had allegedly received an affected gift under section 12 of POCA, said spokesperson Sindisiwe Twala.
"The restraint order was necessary to preserve assets while investigations continue into additional unlawful activities from which Smith derived corrupt benefits not disclosed either to SARS [South African Revenue Services] or the Registrar of Parliamentary Members' interests."
In the restraint application which was before Judge Elias Motojane, Investigating Directorate head Hermione Cronje stated why more than R800 000 should form part of the restraint order.
She said:
