The liquidators of diamond dealer Louis Liebenberg’s money schemes have indicated that they will go after several well-known individuals to recover funds allegedly received through the scheme.

According to Rapport, these individuals include former Minister Lindiwe Zulu, (former President Jacob) Zuma’s relative, Rejoice Zuma Tembe, and controversial pastor Xandré Strydom from the Christ in Me International Collective.

Vaughn Victor, one of the liquidators, says they have managed to track down several payments made from the bank accounts used by the investment scheme for which Liebenberg and others have recently been arrested.

A R1m payment was allegedly been made to Carl Niehaus while Zuma Tembe allegedly received R50 000. Niehaus declined to comment.

During an insolvency inquiry, Liebenberg’s wife, Dezzi, testified about a diary full of entries of payments allegedly made. The alleged recipients included Jacob Zuma, Ace Magashule, and Zulu.

Mzwanele Manyi of the Jacob G Zuma Foundation said he will not answer queries.

Victor says the extent of liquidation is unprecedented in many respects.

‘We are investigating 37 bank accounts of directors, managers, and employees in which hundreds of millions of rands of investors was deposited. The money was thereafter withdrawn, packaged and couriered to individuals.’

The liquidators have already obtained 23 search warrants.

‘We currently have information about high-ranking officials from SARS that were paid off,’ Victor says.

Full report in Rapport (subscription needed)

Liebenberg’s problems do not end with his current criminal case, another Rapport report notes. The Human Rights Commission is acting against him more than two years after voice recordings containing extremely racist remarks came to light.

The HRC has now approached the Equality Court requesting the court to impose a compensation order of R300 000 for hate speech against Liebenberg.

HRC commissioner Professor Tshepo Madlingozi says the contents of the recordings amounted to hate speech.

Apart from using the k-word, Liebenberg allegedly said the apartheid government should have dropped an atom bomb on Soweto.

Liebenberg further reportedly intimated that black people have a low IQ. The HRC is asking for compensation to be paid to an NGO promoting reconciliation and diversity, an apology from Liebenberg, sensitivity training and community service.

Full report in Rapport (subscription needed)