The country was in shock to hear that well-respected Tsotsi actress and businesswoman  Moitheri 'Terry' Pheto was embroiled in a money scandal involving the National Lottery Council (NLC). ?

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FIRST TERRY?

Terry broke hearts after she made headlines and was implicated by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU)report that states that she as she and several high-profile business people, improperly benefitted from funds of the National Lottery Council. "SIU investigations in the affairs of the National Lotteries Commission (NLC) had revealed that the acquisition of the properties was funded. by the Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) with money they had received, under the auspices of grant funding, from the NLC,' the report reads.

Terry denied being involved in any crime in a statement, saying that she is dismayed. "I am dismayed to discover that I am the subject of a Special Investigation Unit probe into allegations of fraud relating to funding by the National Lotteries Commission. I deny any involvement in the alleged scheme that has been reported on. I also had no prior knowledge of an application to obtain a preservation order against me, and have no sight of this order," she said.

NOW PRESLEY

Just when the country was trying to digest the news, the name of The River actor Presley Chweneyagae is also involved in the matter. In the report, Presley was implicated in the first R15 million which was received by the movement in question. It is reported that the Presley Chweneyagae Foundation, for the play which was co-written and co-directed by Chwenengayaeand Tshepo Ratona titled Taking Back The Future benefitted unlawfully with actors Zenzo Ngqobe, Tshireletso Nkoane, Boitumelo "Chuck" Shisana, and Segomotso Modise. The play was meant to highlight the drug crisis in South Africa but the play never made it out of Mahikeng, following its premiere and five-day run in June 2017. In an interview about the play, Presley is heard saying, "This is a dual artistic project, it constitutes both theatre and film elements. The production will tour three provinces, Free State, Mpumalanga, and the North West Province.' SAYM board chairperson Dr. Lekgotla Mafisa says the project took place six years ago and that the minimum required period to store documents is five years, therefore does not have access to the information. "The board of SAYM took note of the risk of association and at its own discretion advised the NLC that Chweneyagae Foundation would not participate as an interested party in the project. We hope that you are not going to use Mr.Chweneyagae maliciously to sensationalise his participation in the project, of which he is not a beneficiary. The SAYM is a beneficiary and not the Chweneyagae Foundation. Mr. Presley Chweneyagae was not paid in his personal capacity.'?

WHAT AUTHORITIES SAY?

The unit's spokesperson, Kaizer Kganyago, unpacked the allegations stating that they have been investigating the matter since 2020 and revealed that the money had also bought the popular seafood restaurant Ocean Basket in Carnival City. "We have been investigating this issue since 2020. You will remember that it emanates from proclamation R-32 of 2022, and as part of our investigation, we are looking at certain NPOs that received the money. And when we were tracing the money, we found that it ended up buying properties.'