NPA welcomes R1.66bn confiscation order against Agrizzi

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has welcomed a Gauteng High Court judgment ordering former Bosasa chief operating officer Angelo Agrizzi to pay the State more than R1.66 billion in proceeds linked to corruption at the company.

NPA spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) Adv Andy Mothibi welcomed the judgment delivered by Judge Mosopa in the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on October 29.

Agrizzi has been ordered to pay R1 666 582 825.73, together with interest from the date of judgment until final payment.

The confiscation order follows Agrizzi's conviction and sentence on November 6, 2025, after he entered into a plea and sentence agreement in which he pleaded guilty to three counts of corruption and one count of money laundering arising from his role at Bosasa.

The confiscation proceedings were dealt with separately, with the enquiry heard on July 30, 2026.

According to Kganyago, the judgment records Agrizzi's admissions detailing an entrenched system of corruption used to secure and maintain government contracts, with Agrizzi personally involved in preparing cash bundles used to pay bribes.

The State argued that the financial benefits derived from Agrizzi's participation in Bosasa's unlawful enterprise should be attributed to him, rather than limiting the confiscation to money he personally received or retained.

The court accepted the State's argument that Agrizzi's participation in the joint criminal enterprise and the benefits derived from it could not be separated in the manner he had proposed.

The court also found that Agrizzi had failed to make full and frank disclosure of his financial affairs and had concealed property, including assets abroad.

It consequently declined to limit the confiscation order, saying it was not satisfied that the amount that could be realised from his assets was less than the value of the proceeds attributed to him.

Kganyago said the judgment demonstrated the significant financial consequences for those who knowingly participate in or facilitate corrupt enterprises.

He said the criminal justice system must pursue not only convictions and sentences, but also the proceeds and financial benefits derived from criminal activities.

The NPA clarified that the confiscation order creates a legal obligation for Agrizzi to pay the amount determined by the court, but does not mean that the State has already recovered the R1.66 billion.

The actual amount recovered will depend on the assets available and the enforcement process.

The court further ordered Agrizzi to pay the legal costs of the proceedings, including the costs of two counsel on Scale C.

It also directed that the fees of curator bonis Johan Engelbrecht of Icon Insolvency Practitioners be paid from money derived from Agrizzi's realisable property and paid to the State.

Kganyago said the NPA remained committed to pursuing individuals who profit from corruption and recovering the proceeds of crime where the law and evidence permit.