Western Cape High Court: On 8 July 2014 the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) of the National Prosecuting Authority in the Western Cape, working closely with the prosecutors from the Director of Public Prosecutions, Western Cape, obtained a restraint order in the Western Cape High Court against Mrs Thandi Maqubela, the widow of the late Acting Judge Ntobeko Maqubela.
In the criminal trial and the papers filed by the AFU it transpired that Mrs Maqubela had forged a will in which she attempted to inherit to the exclusion of some of the children.
The order prevents her from inheriting from the estate of her deceased husband on the basis of her conviction for his murder. The value of the inheritance of Mrs Maqubela is estimated at R7.2 million.
The executor of the estate and the Master of the High Court in Johannesburg are currently in the process of winding up the estate, and have been ordered not to pay out the inheritance to Mrs Maqubela until the finalisation of her criminal case on the basis that she cannot be allowed to benefit from the proceeds of her own criminal activity. Mrs Maqubela has already been convicted and found guilty, and is currently awaiting sentencing.
When the trail resumes, the AFU will apply for a confiscation order of her inheritance to ensure that Mrs Maqubela does not benefit from the murder she committed, and will request the court to order that her share be divided amongst the other heirs of the estate.
The other heirs are:
- two major children from the Maqubelas’ marriage
- two other major children that the late Mr Maqubela fathered prior to this marriage
- one child of Mrs Maqubela from before the marriage who is a step child of the late Mr Maqubela.
Enquiries:
Nathi Mncube
Tel: 012 845 6093
Cell: 084 814 8364
