South Africa’s TV darling Terry Pheto is reportedly cooperating with the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) in its multi-million-rand fraud probe into the National Lottery Commission (NLC).
Terry Pheto involvement linked to reported romance in NLC hierarchy
Earlier this month, the local industry was rocked by a statement released by the SIU, noting the involvement of Pheto and seven others as suspects in a property fraud scam.
According to the SIU, Pheto along with Lesley Ramulifho, Collin Mukondeleli Tshisimba, Fulufhelo Promise Kharivhe, and representatives of four family trusts, as well as Unbrand Properties, allegedly colluded with the NLC in siphoning grant fund monies toward the purchase of assets including two Ocean Basket franchises situated in East Rand, Gauteng, a private property listed under the actress’ name, as well as the acquisition of a BMW 420i.
In a response to the her inclusion in the fraud scam, Pheto vehemently denied any involvement in the scam, stating she had “no prior knowledge of an application to obtain a preservation order against me and have had no sight of this order.”
According to sources quoted by Moja Love TV‘s celebrity gossip magazine, ZiMoja, Pheto may be assisting the SIU in uncovering the roots of the scandal that saw more than R25 million siphoned out of a NLC grant fund and used to purchase the seized assets.
Moreover, insiders allege Pheto may have come into the picture after she allegedly got romantically involved with the commission’s chairperson Professor Alfred Nevhutanda.
“Terry is naming names in this matter. She doesn’t want to get arrested, and since she will turn into a state witness when the Hawks arrest the suspected fraudsters,” the insider alleged.
According to SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago, Pheto will have to answer for how a portion of the NLC’s grant fund monies ended up financing her R3 million property.
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