By: Sello Theletsane
The Hawks have been caught up in a bitter war for the ownership and control of a prominent outdoor media and billboard advertising company that has landed in the courts.
So ugly is the war for the control and ownership of Strawberry Worx Pop that the Hawks have been accused of taking bribes from one of the parties involved in the bitter court battle over the ownership of the company. It is alleged the Hawks have harassed a witness in a criminal case involving the theft of property and tens of millions of rands in cash from the same company. Strawberry Worx Pop boats several big clients including Passenger Rail Agency of SA (PRASA).
Featuring prominently in this legal battle for ownership of Strawberry Works Pop is Selvan Moodley, the son of powerful, controversial ANC-linked and State Capture accused Durban-based businessman Chockalingam “Roy” Moodley.
Moodley and his companies have been implicated in corruption allegations at SOEs dating back to 2001 when his security company was named in a tender scandal at Telkom. Moodley also came under the spotlight during the State Capture Commission where evidence showing the KZN businessman’s alleged capture of PRASA’s “modernisation mission” took center stage: A series of forensic reports into PRASA’s major contracts by law firm Werksmans, alongside evidence presented to the Zondo Commission, revealed the level of influence that Moodley and his companies wielded over PRASA and how he used this influence to receive lucrative contracts and crush dissent within the parastatal.
Moodley’s son, Selvan, is not new to controversy. He once raised eyebrows in 2014 at his father’s birthday party attended by among high-profile South Africans then-State President Jacob Zuma and Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini when he introduced his father, describing him as “the most powerful man in the country” and neglecting to mention King Goodwill, as protocol required.
Now Selvan is involved in a substantial legal dispute, suing his former partners at Strawberry Worx Pop.
In his court papers, Selvan claims he was the source of business for Strawberry Worx Pop and that he obtained and concluded all its contracts. Among these is the controversial contract that Strawberry Worx secured with PRASA, allegedly with the influence of Selvan’s father Roy Moodley is the one referred to at the Zondo Commission by a witness who described the relationship between former PRASA chief executive Lucky Montana and Moodley senior. The same contract was set aside and declared unlawful in 2021 by the Gauteng High Court based on evidence from the witness at the Zondo Commission.
Despite this, Selvan Moodley remains adamant in his court challenge that he is a 50% shareholder in the business and demands that “fair value” be paid to him for his shares by Strawberry Worx Pop.
In his court papers, Selvan further accuses another shareholder, Ashveer Dwarikapersadh, of abusing company funds and placing Strawberry Worx Pop beyond his (Selvan’s) reach. Africa News Global has reliably been informed that the feud over the control of the company has become so dangerous and ugly, resulting in numerous death threats being made against Ashveer and the arrest of his family members by the Hawks. However, in his court papers, Selvan states that Dwarikaperdsadh “is doing everything in his power to keep Strawberry Worx as his own”.
He further claims: “I believe that Ashveer is attempting to flee the country and I believe that he has siphoned off considerable amounts of cash from Strawberry Worx and Touchpoint (Strawberry’s sales arm).” However, Selvan’s accusers hit back, accusing him of stealing millions from the company which he wasted on sustaining his lavish lifestyle and gambling. It is alleged that Selvan gambled over R3m in 3 months. In his court papers, Selvan denies stealing any monies from Strawberry Worx Pop and Touchpoint. However, he admits that being a client of Sun International and visiting its casinos for years but denies wasting money on gambling. “I do hold a diamond card with Sun International and I have done so for many years before I met Ashveer. I do attend the casinos from time to time and deny any innuendo or implication that this has resulted in a wastage of monies.”
Africa News Global understands that there’s an ongoing criminal case in which Selvan allegedly assisted one Althaaf Cassim, a previous consultant of Strawberry Worx to defraud the associated company and sales arm, Touchpoint Media, by opening a false bank account at Al Baraka Bank for Touchpoint from which millions of rand were withdrawn by Cassim and given to Selvan. It is alleged that Cassim paid over R10 m in cash to Selvan after which a criminal case was opened against Cassim. It is in this case where the Hawks have been accused of protecting Selvan and Cassim.
It is alleged that when the case was opened against Cassim for defrauding Touchpoint, one Hawks Brigadier Baadjies called the investigating officer to enquire about Selvan’s involvement in the matter. It is further alleged that Selvan accompanied Brigadiers Baadjies’ subordinate Hawks’ Captain Matseba Moabelo on an investigation about Cassim.
Africa News Global has seen a statement by a witness in the case, whose identity cannot be revealed, who claims to have been pressured by Selvan and Captain Moabelo to lie in his witness statement in exchange for him not to be a suspect but a witness. “On 3 January 2024, I was awakened by a visit from Captain Matseba Moabelo from the Hawks, investigating a case of insurance fraud by Strawberry Worx Pop. He told me I was a suspect in this case. I was shocked upon hearing this. I was told that upon making a statement, I would then be a witness as opposed to being a suspect. I had stated clearly that I’m unaware of any insurance fraud and that I was certainly not involved in any kind of fraud.
“As we were seated in my dining room and the captain was about to ask me a question, there was a knock at my door and upon attending to that knock, much to my surprise, I found it to be Selvan Moodley and Althaaf Cassim, who I both know. Selvan Moodley was a partner in Strawberry Worx and Althaaf was the finance manager and was based in Johannesburg. They entered my home and seated themselves in the dining room. The captain seemed not to be affected by the arrival of Selvan and gave the impression as though Selvan had been awaited and expected to be present.”
Again I was reminded by Selvan and the captain that I must make a statement so that I would no longer be a suspect in this matter. I was very afraid and intimidated and did not feel comfortable, especially with the threat of arrest, which I took seriously as I know Selvan Moodley and his family, who have serious connections in the SAPS. I was asked about the looting period and could not recall specifics like dates and it was Selvan and Althaaf who answered on my behalf.”
“The statement contained most of the things Selvan Moodley and Althaaf Cassim told him and not what I said. The statement contained facts that were not true. The statement that I signed on 3 January 2024 is not correct and I want it retracted. The statement that was extracted from me was done under extreme conditions. Selvan’s attendance and presence at the meeting in retrospect causes and creates great concern,” concluded the witness in his statement.
Africa News Global sent questions to Captain Moabelo and Selvan Moodley. Moabelo declined to comment. He instead referred all inquiries to Hawks head office or its provincial office. Selvan was very arrogant in his response, even going to the extent of accusing this reporter of being bribed by people he’s fighting with in court.
“I have received your questions and at the outset, I tell you that it is totally misguided. The person who is paying you to ask these questions is a wanted fugitive who has a warrant of arrest out for him as he currently absconded from the country after committing fraud, money laundering, and tax evasion against the Government, SASRIA Fund for approximately R50 million,” Selvan claimed.
“I do not know who Brig Baadjies is, nor have I ever met such a person. The rest of your questions are based on innuendos and suspicions and have absolutely no basis on the surface or underlying. Please confine your questions to the facts and not innuendos. Yes, I confirm that there is a dispute between myself and those paying you which is before the courts and it is lis pendens and I cannot comment further.”
