Allegations of financial impropriety are swirling around kwaito star Arthur Mafokate, this time involving a National Lotteries Commission (NLC) grant intended for a foundation supporting children with disabilities.
A mother, whose identity is being withheld to protect her daughter, claims Mafokate has hijacked the Loveness Foundation, a charity she co-founded, and misappropriated funds meant to empower children living with disabilities.
The Loveness Foundation, launched in March last year, aims to help young people with disabilities pursue careers in the entertainment industry. The mother explains that Mafokate, who assisted with the foundation's application for a R300 000 discretionary grant from the NLC in February this year, has allegedly cut off all communication since the application was submitted.
"I initially met with him at this house in Midrand, where he told me that the idea of the foundation was to apply for funding across different government institutions. He registered the foundation on the government tender database," she recalled.
The crux of the mother's complaint centres on Mafokate's alleged actions after the NLC application. She claims he unilaterally changed the foundation's banking details and the login details for its funding portal.
"He is avoiding my calls, and he has failed to explain why he changed the login details on the business portal, and the banking details. I think some of the funds we applied for came through and he does not want us to know," she alleges and expresses deep concern that the funds intended for the foundation's vital work have been diverted.
Adding to her distress, the mother reveals that Mafokate also applied for a separate R300 000 grant from the National Arts Council on behalf of the foundation.
"That was the last time I had a chat with him; for many months I waited to hear from him. Until today, he has not come back to me. Clearly, I am scammed,” she stated.
The foundation, she explains, is now struggling financially, hindering its ability to provide crucial support to children with disabilities who dream of careers in the entertainment industry.
"The work of the foundation includes helping young people with disabilities to realise their potential in the entertainment industry. If they want to be TV presenters, actors and dancers, the foundation helps them. But, right now, we are struggling because we have no money for this,” she said.
The mother maintains that the initial agreement was for Mafokate to use her daughter's signature to apply for funding on their behalf.
"My daughter has a strong desire to help those like her access opportunities. So, Arthur saw her passion and offered to help with the funding aspect,” she explained.
She further stated that Mafokate hasn't offered any explanation for his alleged actions.
City Press' attempts to obtain comment from Mafokate proved unsuccessful. Despite acknowledging receipt of requests for comment, he had not responded by the time of publication. This lack of response only serves to fuel the mother's accusations and raises further questions about the alleged misappropriation of funds.
This latest controversy adds to Mafokate's existing legal troubles. In January, the Pretoria High Court dismissed his attempt to overturn a preservation order obtained by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to seize his luxury guest house in Midrand. Judge Mandlenkosi Motha's ruling cited Mafokate's failure to adequately explain the source of funds used to purchase the property.
The SIU's investigation into Mafokate stems from allegations of dubious transactions involving NLC grants worth R60 million, dating back to 2014. The grants were reportedly channelled through several non-profit organisations, including the Taung Cultural Music and Arts Expo, Dinosys, Matieni Community Centre, and Zibscraft.
Mafokate allegedly received R9.5 million in 2014 through the SA Art and Development Association, with a significant portion allegedly used to purchase the Midrand guest house. The guest house, reportedly costing around R6 million, allegedly represents the balance of the R9.5 million received from the NLC.
These allegations were reportedly brought to the NLC's attention in 2019 by Mafokate's former manager, Brian Mokoena.
