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"title": "Gone in 60 seconds: Businessman Edwin Sodi’s fleet of luxury cars forfeited to the state",
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"description": "Daily Maverick is an independent online news publication and weekly print newspaper in South Africa.\r\n\r\nIt is known for breaking some of the defining stories of South Africa in the past decade, including the Marikana Massacre, in which the South African Police Service killed 34 miners in August 2012.\r\n\r\nIt also investigated the Gupta Leaks, which won the 2019 Global Shining Light Award.\r\n\r\nThat investigation was credited with exposing the Indian-born Gupta family and former President Jacob Zuma for their role in the systemic political corruption referred to as state capture.\r\n\r\nIn 2018, co-founder and editor-in-chief Branislav ‘Branko’ Brkic was awarded the country’s prestigious Nat Nakasa Award, recognised for initiating the investigative collaboration after receiving the hard drive that included the email tranche.\r\n\r\nIn 2021, co-founder and CEO Styli Charalambous also received the award.\r\n\r\nDaily Maverick covers the latest political and news developments in South Africa with breaking news updates, analysis, opinions and more.",
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"contents": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A 2017 red Ferrari Four F151, valued at R2.99-million, pulled out of Blackhead Consulting's headquarters in Bryanston, Johannesburg, on Tuesday, the driver opening the throttle one last time before the car goes into storage.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Ferrari was one of the vehicles the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA's) Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) seized from politically connected businessman Edwin Sodi and his company Blackhead Consulting, after he and six others were</span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-10-02-free-state-corruption-accused-granted-bail-as-further-swoops-are-made-in-kwa-zulu-natal/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">charged</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in court last week for fleecing the Free State government of R255-million through an allegedly corrupt asbestos audit contract.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The AFU obtained a provisional restraint order against Sodi and his co-accused, allowing it to seize around R300-million in assets. On Friday, the AFU swooped on Sodi's Johannesburg home as well as former Free State human settlements MEC Sarah “Olly” Mlamleli's Bloemfontein property.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/afu-swoops-on-sodis-assests-2/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-734128\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/OD-Greg-AFUseizures2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1290\" /></a> A red Ferrari belonging to Edwin Sodi and his company Blackhead Consulting after it was attached on 6 October 2020 in Bryanston. The car forms part of assets worth millions of rands. Photo: Shiraaz Mohamed</p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mlamleli joined Sodi in the dock in the Bloemfontein Magistrates' Court on Friday, along with Free State human settlements department head Nthimotse Mokhesi, businessman Sello Radebe, former director-general of the national department of human settlements Thabane Zulu, Free State human settlements supply chain manager director Mahlamola Matlakela and businessman Abel Manyeki.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They have been charged with fraud, theft, corruption and money laundering in relation to an irregular contract awarded in 2014 to Blackhead Consulting and Diamond Hill Trading to identify and remove asbestos from Free State homes.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The deal was worth R255-million, although only R21-million worth of work was carried out. The Auditor-General raised the issue of the illegal contract in 2015 after R91-million had already been paid.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/afu-swoops-on-sodis-assests-6/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-734134\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/OD-Greg-AFUseizures7.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1219\" /></a> The entrance to the Blackhead Consulting offices in Bryanston where the NPA, Asset Forfeiture Unit and Hawks began seizing assets belonging to Edwin Sodi. Photo: Shiraaz Mohamed</p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instead of taking action, provincial officials allowed the deal to continue and the government paid the companies a further R139-million. Sodi has gone to court to claim another R25-million he believes he is owed.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sodi is accused of paying kickbacks to government officials to secure the deal, something he recently</span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-08-20-i-like-my-holy-waters-boasts-edwin-sodi-winner-of-r255-million-free-state-asbestos-contract/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">dismissed</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> when he appeared at the State Capture Commission of Inquiry.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/director-of-blackhead-edwin-sodi-testifies-at-commission-of-inquiry-5/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-728406\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/Erin-ZondoComFS-TW-main-option-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"999\" /></a> Tender tycoon Edwin Sodi. (Photo: Gallo Images / Luba Lesolle)</p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The high-flying businessman, whose company earned over R1-billion in state contracts in the last decade, has also made generous donations to the ANC and some of its leaders.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The AFU's provisional restraint order provides some detail of his luxurious life. He owns multiple properties, and vehicles registered in Sodi's name include a Porsche Cayenne, a Rolls-Royce Ghost and a Bentley Continental.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/afu-swoops-on-sodis-assests-8/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-734136\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/OD-Greg-AFUseizures9.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1767\" height=\"1150\" /></a> A Porsche Cayenne belonging to Edwin Sodi and his company Blackhead Consulting is seen leaving the Blackhead Consulting offices after it was attached by the Asset Forfeiture Unit on 6 October 2020 in Bryanston. Photo: Shiraaz Mohamed</p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The AFU and curator Gerhard Geldenhuys from PwC were busy on Tuesday seizing Blackhead Consulting's 25 vehicles, which include the Ferrari, a Porsche and another Bentley Continental, plus several Mercedes’ and Ford Rangers.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to </span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">News24</span></i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, Sodi recently</span><a href=\"https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/investigations/pics-inside-asbestos-audit-kingpin-edwin-sodis-r85-million-mansion-paid-for-by-taxpayers-20201003\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">listed</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> his seven-bedroom Bryanston home on the market for a whopping R85-million.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The NPA and various law enforcement agencies continue to investigate the asbestos deal and more arrests are expected. The accused are due back in court on 11 November. </span><b>DM</b>",
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"description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A 2017 red Ferrari Four F151, valued at R2.99-million, pulled out of Blackhead Consulting's headquarters in Bryanston, Johannesburg, on Tuesday, the driver opening the throttle one last time before the car goes into storage.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Ferrari was one of the vehicles the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA's) Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) seized from politically connected businessman Edwin Sodi and his company Blackhead Consulting, after he and six others were</span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-10-02-free-state-corruption-accused-granted-bail-as-further-swoops-are-made-in-kwa-zulu-natal/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">charged</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in court last week for fleecing the Free State government of R255-million through an allegedly corrupt asbestos audit contract.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The AFU obtained a provisional restraint order against Sodi and his co-accused, allowing it to seize around R300-million in assets. On Friday, the AFU swooped on Sodi's Johannesburg home as well as former Free State human settlements MEC Sarah “Olly” Mlamleli's Bloemfontein property.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_734128\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"2000\"]<a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/afu-swoops-on-sodis-assests-2/\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-734128\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/OD-Greg-AFUseizures2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1290\" /></a> A red Ferrari belonging to Edwin Sodi and his company Blackhead Consulting after it was attached on 6 October 2020 in Bryanston. The car forms part of assets worth millions of rands. Photo: Shiraaz Mohamed[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mlamleli joined Sodi in the dock in the Bloemfontein Magistrates' Court on Friday, along with Free State human settlements department head Nthimotse Mokhesi, businessman Sello Radebe, former director-general of the national department of human settlements Thabane Zulu, Free State human settlements supply chain manager director Mahlamola Matlakela and businessman Abel Manyeki.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They have been charged with fraud, theft, corruption and money laundering in relation to an irregular contract awarded in 2014 to Blackhead Consulting and Diamond Hill Trading to identify and remove asbestos from Free State homes.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The deal was worth R255-million, although only R21-million worth of work was carried out. The Auditor-General raised the issue of the illegal contract in 2015 after R91-million had already been paid.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_734134\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"2000\"]<a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/afu-swoops-on-sodis-assests-6/\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-734134\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/OD-Greg-AFUseizures7.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1219\" /></a> The entrance to the Blackhead Consulting offices in Bryanston where the NPA, Asset Forfeiture Unit and Hawks began seizing assets belonging to Edwin Sodi. Photo: Shiraaz Mohamed[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instead of taking action, provincial officials allowed the deal to continue and the government paid the companies a further R139-million. Sodi has gone to court to claim another R25-million he believes he is owed.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sodi is accused of paying kickbacks to government officials to secure the deal, something he recently</span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-08-20-i-like-my-holy-waters-boasts-edwin-sodi-winner-of-r255-million-free-state-asbestos-contract/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">dismissed</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> when he appeared at the State Capture Commission of Inquiry.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_728406\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"2000\"]<a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/director-of-blackhead-edwin-sodi-testifies-at-commission-of-inquiry-5/\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-728406\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/Erin-ZondoComFS-TW-main-option-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"999\" /></a> Tender tycoon Edwin Sodi. (Photo: Gallo Images / Luba Lesolle)[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The high-flying businessman, whose company earned over R1-billion in state contracts in the last decade, has also made generous donations to the ANC and some of its leaders.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The AFU's provisional restraint order provides some detail of his luxurious life. He owns multiple properties, and vehicles registered in Sodi's name include a Porsche Cayenne, a Rolls-Royce Ghost and a Bentley Continental.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_734136\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1767\"]<a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/afu-swoops-on-sodis-assests-8/\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-734136\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/OD-Greg-AFUseizures9.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1767\" height=\"1150\" /></a> A Porsche Cayenne belonging to Edwin Sodi and his company Blackhead Consulting is seen leaving the Blackhead Consulting offices after it was attached by the Asset Forfeiture Unit on 6 October 2020 in Bryanston. Photo: Shiraaz Mohamed[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The AFU and curator Gerhard Geldenhuys from PwC were busy on Tuesday seizing Blackhead Consulting's 25 vehicles, which include the Ferrari, a Porsche and another Bentley Continental, plus several Mercedes’ and Ford Rangers.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to </span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">News24</span></i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, Sodi recently</span><a href=\"https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/investigations/pics-inside-asbestos-audit-kingpin-edwin-sodis-r85-million-mansion-paid-for-by-taxpayers-20201003\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">listed</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> his seven-bedroom Bryanston home on the market for a whopping R85-million.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The NPA and various law enforcement agencies continue to investigate the asbestos deal and more arrests are expected. The accused are due back in court on 11 November. </span><b>DM</b>",
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A red Ferrari belonging to Edwin Sodi and his company Blackhead Consulting after it was attached on 6 October 2020 in Bryanston. The car forms part of assets worth millions of rands. Photo: Shiraaz Mohamed
The entrance to the Blackhead Consulting offices in Bryanston where the NPA, Asset Forfeiture Unit and Hawks began seizing assets belonging to Edwin Sodi. Photo: Shiraaz Mohamed
Tender tycoon Edwin Sodi. (Photo: Gallo Images / Luba Lesolle)
A Porsche Cayenne belonging to Edwin Sodi and his company Blackhead Consulting is seen leaving the Blackhead Consulting offices after it was attached by the Asset Forfeiture Unit on 6 October 2020 in Bryanston. Photo: Shiraaz Mohamed