KwaZulu-Natal police have launched coordinated raids on multiple properties owned by Calvin Mathibeli, the prominent CEO and chairman of the Calvin and Family Group. The operations, spanning four provinces, target allegations of tender fraud tied to lucrative government contracts.
Mathibeli, a self-made entrepreneur from humble beginnings as a garden boy and cell phone repairer, built his Durban-based conglomerate over two decades. The group specializes in security services, logistics, construction, and property development, securing deals with entities like Rand Water and Gauteng’s Department of Health. His wife, Sma Mathibeli, serves as group CEO, overseeing subsidiaries from armed guarding to civil engineering.
The raids follow a heated feud between Mathibeli and KZN police commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Mathibeli accuses SAPS of harassment since 2019, including armed searches and death threats, prompting a R15 million civil lawsuit against the force. He claims the actions stem from business rivalries rather than legitimate probes.
SAPS KZN dismisses these claims, vowing to scrutinize Mathibeli’s tenders—particularly a Gauteng Health contract flagged after his public statements. “Nobody is above the law,” officials stated, promising investigations into his operations. Recent high court orders required Mathibeli to retract prior allegations against police, escalating tensions.
Eyewitnesses reported SAPS teams, including specialized units, descending on Durban sites like Umhlanga Ridge on March 10, 2026, seizing documents and firearms. No arrests were confirmed immediately, but authorities hinted at broader fraud inquiries.
This development spotlights corruption risks in South Africa’s tender system, where black-owned firms like Calvin and Family Group have thrived amid empowerment goals. Mathibeli, once hailed by Forbes and national awards, now faces a pivotal test of his empire’s integrity.
As trial dates loom for the civil suit, the raids could unravel contracts worth millions, shaking KZN’s business landscape. Stakeholders await official charges or vindication