The net is tightening around former National Lotteries Commission (NLC) Chief Risk Officer Marubini Livingstone Ramatsekisa as the Special Tribunal has ruled to preserve his R1.4 million pension fund amid serious allegations of fraud and financial misconduct.
The decision, handed down on 18 March 2025, supports the Special Investigating Unit’s (SIU) efforts to recover funds allegedly lost through a scheme that saw R4 million in public money improperly channeled to Zibsicraft — a shelf company implicated in a questionable Khoisan language study project. According to the SIU, over R2.2 million of that money was used to acquire property for a church linked to former NLC Board Chair Alfred Nevhutanda.
Ramatsekisa, who attempted to access R1.2 million from his pension to cover living costs and legal fees, was denied by the court after failing to provide adequate financial disclosures. Presiding Judge Margaret Victor expressed concern over the stark contrast between Ramatsekisa’s claims of financial hardship and his upscale lifestyle, including residency at the Blue Valley Golf Estate and ownership of several properties.
In addition to dismissing his attempt to unlock funds, the Tribunal also rejected his applications to rescind or vary the preservation order. He was ordered to pay legal costs, with enforcement deferred for 12 months.
As the SIU prepares for further civil proceedings to recover the alleged losses, this ruling marks another chapter in the broader investigation into governance failures and financial irregularities at the NLC.
