The Polokwane Specialised Commercial Crimes Court has issued a warrant of arrest for Giyani businessman Howard Mashaba after he failed to appear in court for his trial today, 29 May 2026. He reportedly travelled to China on a business trip without the court’s permission.

Mashaba, a convicted fraudster with four previous criminal records, faces charges including fraud, theft, three counts of money laundering, and contraventions of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA). The state alleges he fraudulently concluded property deals involving state-owned land worth between R290,000 and R450,000. The properties were never transferred, and a hotel was unlawfully built on one of them.

The businessman is also under investigation by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) for allegedly diverting over R34.4 million from the National Lotteries Commission (NLC). In February 2026, the Limpopo High Court ordered the forfeiture of his R22 million hotel built on state land.

Mashaba has a history of defying court orders. He remains a fugitive from a 2019 contempt sentence for failing to pay Mercedes-Benz approximately R22 million.

His father, Magezi Ben Mashaba (74), and two other co-accused are expected to appear alongside him when the matter resumes on 29 June 2026, should authorities execute the warrant before then.