Controversial Businessman Hangwani Maumela Launches A Desperate Legal Bid To Stop The State From Taking His R70 Million Sandton Mansion

Controversial businessman Hangwani Morgan Maumela has launched a legal bid to stop the final seizure of his palatial Sandton mansion, three months after the State secured a final forfeiture order covering assets worth about R325 million.

The National Prosecuting Authority’s Asset Forfeiture Unit was granted the order by the High Court in Johannesburg in July 2026.

The order covered several properties and luxury assets, including Maumela’s multi-storey home in Sandhurst, valued at approximately R70 million.

The State has argued that the assets were the proceeds of unlawful activities linked to the alleged looting of about R2 billion from Tembisa Hospital.

[do_widget id=super_rss_reader-3] –> –> Maumela’s legal representatives have now filed a rescission application, asking the court to reconsider or set aside the final order.

The filing does not automatically suspend the forfeiture or prevent the State from taking further steps. The court will have to consider the application and the grounds relied on by Maumela’s legal team.

The allegations linked to the Tembisa Hospital matter remain subject to the relevant legal proceedings.

NPA spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago confirmed that the Asset Forfeiture Unit had received the application from Maumela’s lawyers on the Friday before the report was published.

“We will be expediting our response and any further processes to ensure that this application is concluded,” Kganyago said.

The NPA said that shortly after the forfeiture order was granted, Maumela’s legal representatives contacted the authority and indicated that they intended either to appeal or apply for rescission.

“Shortly after the granting of the forfeiture application, we were engaged by legal representatives for Maumela. They indicated an intention to appeal or to apply for a rescission.”

The distinction between an appeal and rescission is important. An appeal generally asks a higher court to review a judgment or order, while rescission seeks to have an order set aside or reconsidered in circumstances provided for by law.

The court will determine whether Maumela’s application meets the legal requirements and whether the final forfeiture order should remain in place while the matter is considered.

The forfeiture order covers a portfolio of properties and assets connected to Maumela.

The most prominent property is the Sandhurst mansion, a luxury multi-storey home reportedly valued at R70 million. The residence has 10 bedrooms, a car wash and a salon.

Other properties included in the order are an approximately R88 million mansion in Bantry Bay, Cape Town, and a property at Zimbali Estate in KwaZulu-Natal.

Luxury vehicles were also included. The assets reportedly include four Lamborghinis and a Bentley, as well as a boat and trailer.

The final order means that the State is authorised to take ownership of assets found to be proceeds of unlawful activities or connected to such activities, subject to any further legal challenge.

A forfeiture order is a civil asset-recovery mechanism. It is separate from a criminal conviction and does not necessarily mean that the owner has been convicted of a crime.

The forfeiture proceedings arose from investigations into alleged corruption involving Tembisa Hospital and claims that about R2 billion was looted from the Gauteng health system.

The NPA’s Asset Forfeiture Unit relied on the State’s case that the assets were linked to unlawful activities and represented proceeds that could be recovered.

The investigation followed information supplied by whistleblower Babita Deokaran, who had flagged suspicious payments at the hospital.

Deokaran was shot and killed outside her home in Winchester Hills, south of Johannesburg, on 23 August 2021.

Her death drew national attention to the risks faced by whistleblowers and the alleged corruption she had been investigating. The reference to Deokaran in the forfeiture matter provides context for the origin of the investigation, but does not by itself establish that every person or asset connected to the proceedings was involved in her killing.

The criminal and asset-forfeiture processes must be assessed separately and on the evidence placed before the relevant courts.

In July 2026, the NPA said the forfeited properties and other assets would be put up for sale.

The proceeds were expected to be returned to the Gauteng Department of Health, reflecting the State’s position that the assets were linked to losses suffered through alleged unlawful activity involving public funds.

The planned sale of the Sandton mansion has not yet taken place. The NPA said the delay followed contact from Maumela’s lawyers, who indicated their intention to challenge the forfeiture order.

The rescission application could affect the timing of the sale. If the court grants relief, the State may be required to pause or reconsider steps related to the disposal of the assets. If the application fails, the NPA may proceed with the sale and distribution process, subject to any appeal.

The final outcome will depend on the court’s decision and any further litigation.

The NPA is expected to file a response to the rescission application. Maumela’s legal team will then have an opportunity to reply, after which the court will consider the papers and any oral submissions.

The court may decide whether the application meets the threshold for rescission, whether Maumela has identified a basis to challenge the original order and whether the forfeiture should remain operative pending the outcome.

The application does not erase the July order. Until a court sets it aside, varies it or suspends its operation, the final forfeiture order remains part of the legal record.

The matter is also separate from any criminal prosecution that may arise from the broader Tembisa Hospital investigation. Asset forfeiture proceedings focus on the property and its alleged connection to unlawful activity, while criminal proceedings determine individual criminal liability.

The legal challenge places Maumela’s luxury portfolio back at the centre of a public corruption investigation.

The Sandhurst mansion, with its 10 bedrooms, car wash and salon, has become the most visible symbol of the assets the State wants to recover. The Bantry Bay property, Zimbali estate home, luxury vehicles and boat add to the scale of the dispute.

For the NPA, the forfeiture process is intended to return the value of allegedly misappropriated public funds to the health department. For Maumela, the rescission application represents an attempt to prevent the State from taking final control of the properties and assets.

At the latest update, the NPA had received the rescission application and was preparing its response. The Sandton mansion and other assets remained subject to the final forfeiture order, while the court process continued.

Close Privacy Overview This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Necessary Necessary Always Enabled Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information. Non-necessary Non-necessary Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. SAVE & ACCEPT Loading Comments… You must be logged in to post a comment.