Edwin Sodi is one of the many South African businessmen who have attracted eyes to themselves thanks to their wealth and flamboyant display. Although he has always been making his money through his numerous legal businesses, there have been some allegations against him of late, claiming that not all his monies were made through legal means. This led to his arrest, and the seizure of some of his properties as the case against him still lingered.
Before his travails, Sodi has become known as a lover of all that is luxurious, even though he has often been described as a man who is down to earth. The businessman has a long list of properties ranging from cars to houses and even much more.
Edwin Sodi Fuels His Thirst For Luxury Through His Numerous Businesses
The exact net worth of the controversial businessman is unknown, but he has hundreds of million Rand to his name but based on speculations. All these were made, according to him, through his diverse businesses, at the helm of which is Blackhead Consulting.
The company is the most known, but it is not the only means through which he makes his money. The businessman also owns a farm in Ruimsig, Pretoria, valued at R6 million, a company Base Property Holdings (Pty) Ltd with a mortgage bond valued at R40.5 million. He is reported to be a director in more than 40 private companies.
All the above-stated businesses have given him an unassuming wealth through which he has acquired a lot of expensive things.
Edwin Sodi Has Many Cars And Houses
Thanks to his huge fortune, Sodi has acquired many luxurious items, including cars that cost millions and mansions. He has a long list of personal cars and some belonging to his company. Some of his known cars are a Range Rover car, Bentley Continental GT coupe, and Ferrari Four F151, among many others, which cost him more than 2 million Rand each.
One of his properties is a mansion in Bryanston, which is he put up for sale in 2020. The property has seven bedrooms and came with an asking price of R85 million or R650,000 monthly. Covering more than 3,500 square meters, the property, listed by Hamilton’s Property, has other things such as five luxury bedroom suites, a cocktail bar, a wine cellar, 12-seater cinema, and a games room.
Sodi purchased the property in 2014 when he splashed R40 million to acquire it. It is also kitted with garage space for 14 cars, swimming pools, two separate luxury guest bedrooms, and staff suites, among other things.
The property has the following features:
- It covers 3,500 square meters
- Gourmet kitchen
- Indoor and outdoor pools
- Patios with great views
- Five luxury bedroom suites
- Two luxury guest bedrooms
- cocktail bar
- 12-seater cinema
- A games room
- A wine cellar
- Garage space for 14 cars
- Staff suites
- A guardhouse
- A modern touch
- Full home automation
Sodi Also Spends Big On Expensive Drinks and Donations To Politicians
Beyond the cars, houses, and other luxurious items he has to his name, Edwin Sodi is not a stranger to spending big on expensive drinks, something he confessed during his trial. In addition to this, he described himself as a collector of expensive whiskies. In fact, in six months in 2015, he was said to have spent close to R600,000 or even over buying liquor. He claimed that he spent R100,000 to buy liquor at a time before transporting it to his house.
Not only that, but he also has gifted money in the form of donations to politicians in the past. He made payments through his company to the ANC itself and some high-ranking ANC leaders, including former health minister Zweli Mkhize, Paul Mashatile, Pinky Kekana, and Zizi Kodwa. He claimed that among the politicians that received money from him were business partners and friends. He paid R45,000 to Thulas Nxesi, stating that the money was meant for an underprivileged kid the former was helping. All the monies he has paid to the party politicians have continued to raise eyebrows.
Zweli Mkhize has since insisted that he did not receive any money from Edwin Sodi either directly or otherwise in the past, even though his name was top on the list of those who got money from the businessman. He reportedly got a massive R6.9 million while he was ANC treasurer-general. On the contrary, he stated that Sodi only made various donations to the party and not directly.
Another contribution which he made was towards the building of a church in his hometown in Limpopo. The businessman put in his money to building the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Pelana village in Bolobedu. When the news emerged that there were allegations of fraud against him, the church and its members were left at a shock, with some insisting the news was not true.
Edwin Sodi Is Standing Trail Over Corruption Allegations and Fraud
Sodi has been in the eye of the storm for quite a while now. This is due to his involvement in a contract awarded in 2014, which has been deemed irregular and marred by corruption. The contract was given to Blackhead Consulting and Diamond Hill Trading to take out asbestos from Free State homes.
The contract was worth R255-million, and in 2015, it was revealed that as much as R91-million was already paid in the deal, which has been described as illegal. Another R139-million was later paid even though the work that was done was R21-million worth.
Following all these, an audit alleged that not only was the deal illegal, but the businessman also paid kickbacks to government officials to get the deal. Hence he is accused alongside Nthimotse Mokhesi (head of Free State human settlements department), Thabane Zulu (former director-general of the national department of human settlements), Mahlamola Matlakela (Free State human settlements supply chain manager director), and Sarah “Olly” Mlamleli.
Others are businessmen- Abel Manyeki and Sello Radebe. All those linked to the case were arrested and charged with multiple offenses, including fraud, theft, corruption, and money laundering. They were granted bail of between R50,000 and R500,000.
He Lost Some Of His Properties To The Government
Another one of the luxury vehicles of #EdwinSodi, a Porsche, has been seized by the curators. #Asbestos pic.twitter.com/cd4q8ht6ff
— Siviwe Feketha (@SiviweFeketha) October 6, 2020
The Asset Forfeiture Unit seized Edwin Sodi’s assets at the heels of the allegations against him and others accused of the aforementioned crime. The unit was able to seize the properties after it obtained a provisional restraint order against the accused. Even though others accused alongside the controversial businessman also lost some of their assets, the bulk belonged to Blackhead Consulting, his company.
Some of the properties seized by the government that was registered under his name include the following:
- 2019 Porsche Cayenne S Coupe worth R1.9m
- 2002 Mercedes Benz C32 AMG worth R100 000
- 2017 Rolls Royce Ghost Family Dawn worth R5.3m
- 2017 Bentley Continental Super Sports convertible worth R2.8m
The following cars belonging to his company were also seized:
- 2017 Ferrari Four F151 worth R3 million
- 2004 Toyota Tazz worth R55 000
- 2011 Volkswagen VW250 Polo valued at R75 000
- 2013 Chevrolet Utility 1.4 valued at R70 000
- 2014 Volkswagen Polo Vivo valued at R67 000
- 2014 Volkswagen Polo valued at R67 000
- 2014 Volkswagen Polo Vivo worth R67 000
- 2017 Hino 500 Chassis Cab worth R350 000
- 2012 Nissan NP200 worth R65 000
- 2012 Nissan NP200 valued at R65 000
- 2013 Porsche worth R650 000
- 2014 Hyundai I20 valued at R63 000
- 2013 Mercedes Benz G63 AMG valued at R1.2m
- 2014 Ford Ranger valued at R129 000
- 2014 Ford Ranger valued at R129 000
- 2014 Ford Ranger valued at R129 000
- 2016 Ford Ranger valued at R300 000
- 2016 Ford Ranger valued at R300 000
- 2016 Ford Ranger valued at R300 000
- 2016 Ford Fiesta valued at R160 000
- 2016 Ford Ranger valued at R300 000
- 2016 Ford Ranger valued at R300 000
- 2016 Ford Ranger R300 000
- 2017 Bentley Continental GT Coupe valued at R2.8m
- 2017 Mercedes Benz A217 S65 AMG valued at R1.5m.
Sodi’s properties, including a house owned by the businessman in Johannesburg. The exact worth of the house is unknown. As indicated, Sodi is not the only person to have his assets seized as others whose names were also mentioned in the allegations have also lost some things.
Former Mangaung mayor and former human settlements MEC Sarah Matawana “Olly” Mlamlelihas also lost her cars and properties, and Nthimotse Mokhesi, Mahlomola John Matlakala, and others mentioned in the case. The assets seized have been valued to be worth over R300 million from all the suspects.
It Is Still Not Clear If Edwin Sodi Will Forfeit his Seized Properties
With his seized property put at millions of rand, there are many questions regarding what would happen to the properties that have been seized from the businessman and whether they are now gone for good.
According to the laws, if Sodi and others that have been accused of the aforementioned crime that led to their properties being seized are found innocent, their properties would be returned to them if more charges are not pressed against them. Hence, he would only forfeit the properties if he loses the case against him, even as he still maintains that he is innocent.
