…as court freezes funeral tycoon’s properties over body bags fraud
Moorosi Tsiane
THE Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO) has successfully obtained a restraining order blocking Thari Funeral Home owner, Kabelo Tiheli, from disposing of a property at Ha Tikoe,
The order also applies to another property belonging to the late Disaster Management Authority (DMA) boss MaKhotso Mahosi.
The anti-corruption body filed an ex-parte (without opposition) application before Chief Justice Sakoane Sakoane on 20 August 2025, through Advocate Pelea Joala, under the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act 4 of 2008.
The DCEO argued that the properties — Plot 12303-1660 at Ha Tikoe belonging to Tiheli and Plot 14312-539 at Masianokeng owned by the late Ms Mahosi — were purchased with funds derived from bribery, money laundering, and fraud perpetrated against the state.
This follows a case in which Mr Tiheli faces fraud charges for allegedly defrauding the government of about M5.5 million between 2021 and 2023 by inflating the price of body bags from M300 000 to M5 897 600.
Mr Tiheli, Triple K Group of Companies, and the Executor Estate of the late Ms Mahosi are cited as the first to third respondents.
Justice Sakoane granted the order on Friday, ruling that Mr Tiheli is restrained and prohibited from disposing of, or interfering with the properties.
“The respondents and any other person with the knowledge of this Order are hereby restrained and prohibited from disposing of or otherwise dealing with, interfering with, offering as security for any debt, attaching or selling in execution, diminishing the value of or dealing in any other manner with the following property so far as it remains property held by the first, second and third respondents.
“In respect of Tiheli and Triple K the property described as Plot 12303-1660 Ha Tikoe, in respect of Mahosi the property described as Plot 14312-539 Masianokeng. The order relates to realizable property as defined in section 2 of the Act,” the order reads.
Justice Sakoane further directed that the Registrar of Deeds endorse the title deeds of any immovable property registered in the names of Mr Tiheli, Triple K, and Ms Mahosi, stressing that the properties must not be mortgaged, encumbered, or sold in execution.
Mr Tiheli appeared before Senior Resident Magistrate Peter Murenzi on 3 July 2024 and was slapped with two charges of fraud and corruption over the M5.5 million fraud allegations.
He was admitted to a M5 000 bail deposit and was ordered to find an independent person to stand as surety with immovable property worth M30 000.
According to the chargesheet, the 33-year-old made a false representation to DMA officials regarding body bags used for Covid-19 deaths. While the actual price of the body bags was M300 000, Mr Tiheli charged the government M5 897 600, inflating the price by M5 597 000.
He was further charged with corruption for allegedly paying an M800 000 bribe to the late DMA chief executive officer, Ms Mahosi, to secure the body bags procurement contract.