NLC Board Member Ordered by Tribunal to Repay Stolen Funds

NLC board member William Huma has been ordered by the Special Tribunal to repay over R21 million.

This ruling comes after it was determined that Huma unlawfully diverted funds intended for charitable causes for his personal gain, specifically for his farm.

This money, intended for good causes, was unlawfully diverted for Huma’s personal gain, specifically for his farm.

Judge Margaret Victor noted that Huma’s defenses were “bald, obtuse and unmeritorious.” The tribunal found that:

A R16.5 million grant to the Samaritan Initiative NPO and a R4.7 million payment to Reagile NPC were unlawful.
Huma caused damages exceeding R21 million through egregious misconduct, negligence, dishonesty, and violations of fiduciary duties.

Both organizations were linked to Huma, who used them to obtain funding from the NLC for personal projects, including a failed chicken farming venture.

The investigation, initiated in 2020, revealed that NLC board members had diverted funds meant for public benefit to personal enterprises. Key points from the tribunal’s findings include:

Huma directed the use of funds to benefit entities he controlled or was linked to.
The grant to the Samaritan Initiative was meant to empower women and children in rural areas but was misused to install equipment on a farm owned by his niece.
Testimonies indicated that current directors of the Samaritan Initiative were not recognized by original members, raising questions about the legitimacy of the organization.

Huma’s attempts to appeal against a R10 million preservation order regarding his luxury property were unsuccessful. Judge Victor emphasized that the review could proceed regardless of Huma’s appeal.

NLC Captures Huma's Luxury House — Google satellite view of Huma’s luxury house in North West which was partly paid with money that was supposed to be used to build an old age home. (This was not the subject of the Special Tribunal review described in the above article.) Image from Google Maps

This above property was subsequently turned into a boutique hotel using Lotto money. Photo: Facebook page of the hotel

The evidence presented included:

Witness accounts confirming that funding applications were made under Huma’s direction.
Documentation showing that neither organization achieved their stated goals.

The Special Tribunal’s judgment marks a significant step in addressing corruption within the NLC.

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has begun processes to recover the funds, including auctioning properties linked to Huma to redirect proceeds back to community upliftment projects.

The SIU has also preserved additional properties owned by Huma, continuing its investigations into broader allegations of corruption within the NLC.