Former Bosasa chief operating officer Angelo Agrizzi has been ordered to pay the State more than R1.66 billion following a High Court judgment linked to corruption and money laundering arising from his role at the controversial company.

The Gauteng Division of the High Court in Pretoria, through Judge Mosopa, handed down the confiscation order on October 29, directing Agrizzi to pay R1,666,582,825.73, together with interest from the date of judgment until the amount is paid in full.

The National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), Advocate Andy Mothibi, welcomed the ruling, describing it as an important step towards holding individuals financially accountable for corruption.

However, the order does not mean the State has already recovered the R1.66 billion. The amount ultimately recovered will depend on the assets available for confiscation and the enforcement process.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said the judgment reinforced the principle that those who benefit from criminal activities must face financial consequences.

“The NPA remains committed to pursuing those who profit from corruption and, where the law and evidence permit, to recover the proceeds of crime,” Kganyago said.

The confiscation order follows Agrizzi’s conviction and sentence on November 6, 2025, after he entered into a plea and sentence agreement with the State.

Under the agreement, he pleaded guilty to three counts of corruption and one count of money laundering arising from his involvement in Bosasa’s operations.

The confiscation of the proceeds of crime was not determined as part of that agreement and was dealt with separately during an enquiry heard on July 30, 2026.

According to the NPA, the enquiry focused on the financial benefits Agrizzi derived from his offences and sufficiently related criminal activities, rather than being limited to the individual payments identified in the criminal charges.

The court accepted the central argument advanced by the State that Agrizzi’s participation in Bosasa’s unlawful activities and the benefits arising from them could not be separated in the manner he had proposed.

The State argued that his involvement in the broader criminal enterprise justified attributing its proceeds to him, rather than restricting the confiscation enquiry to the amounts he personally retained.

The judgment also records admissions detailing an entrenched system of corruption allegedly used to secure and maintain government contracts, with Agrizzi personally involved in preparing bundles of cash intended for bribes.

The NPA said the ruling demonstrated the potentially significant financial consequences for individuals who knowingly participate in or facilitate corrupt enterprises.

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

It was not satisfied that the amount that could be realised from his assets would be lower than the value of the proceeds attributed to him. The court consequently declined to reduce the confiscation order on that basis.

Confiscation proceedings are separate from criminal sentences imposed after conviction. Their purpose is to deprive offenders of the financial benefits obtained through criminal conduct.

The NPA said the judgment strengthened efforts to pursue financial accountability in corruption cases linked to Bosasa and demonstrated that securing convictions was only one part of the criminal justice system’s response to organised wrongdoing.

In addition to the confiscation order, Agrizzi was directed to pay the legal costs of the proceedings, including the costs of two counsel on Scale C.

The court also ordered 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.

The order adds a significant financial dimension to the legal consequences facing Agrizzi over his involvement in the Bosasa corruption scandal.

The NPA said it would continue pursuing the proceeds of crime wherever the law and available evidence allowed, with the aim of ensuring that individuals do not retain financial benefits derived from corruption.