MPUMALANGA SCAM: ‘Unique in our jurisprudence’: The price of the state’s refusal to pay Fred Daniel

In September 2025, Judge Neil Tuchten ruled in favor of conservationist Fred Daniel, finding that he had been the victim of a violent campaign aimed at silencing his revelations of state capture in Mpumalanga. The South African government, in response to the ruling, doubled down on its strategy of deferment and denial, refusing to pay cost orders and non-compliance with the rules of appeal.

This led to the government facing mounting pressure, with a third attempt to remove vehicles owned by the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) becoming the latest installment in the ongoing saga.

Deputy sheriff Ntobeko Zwane attempted to remove the vehicles three times, with the MTPA's legal department blocking his efforts each time. On the third attempt, the agency's lawyers could not provide a court order, despite the warrant issued by the court, and fed false information to police sergeants who accompanied Zwane. The MTPA's senior manager of legal services, Thanduxolo Lubanga, had previously submitted a deposed affidavit seeking to suspend or set aside the writs he was now blocking Zwane from executing, but the application was only resolved on 9 June 2026.

The government's actions in obstructing Daniel's legal campaign have been called doubly suspect, as the story continues to unfold with the South African government's refusal to pay cost orders and non-compliance with the rules of appeal.