The man who made headlines in July last year when he looted food from a Woolworths store in Durban will have to hand over his Mercedes Benz C300 Coupe.
This was after the Asset Forfeiture Unit in KwaZulu Natal obtained a forfeiture order.
The 30-year-old Mbuso Moloi's alleged looting was captured on video and went viral on social media, where he was dubbed the "Merc-looter."
A spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority Natasha Ramkisson- Kara says this reinforces their strategy to focus not only on prosecutions but also taking away assets that are proven to be instrumental to the commission of a crime.
She says in terms of Chapter 6 of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act of 1998 (POCA) such recoveries are not reliant on convictions at the end of a trial and can be an effective deterrent against crime.
The car which was forfeited on the basis that it is an instrumentality of the offences was valued at approximately R500 000 at the time of the offence.
Since the vehicle is still under purchase agreement from a bank, it will be handed back to them.
Moloi has been in and out of court since his arrest last year and initially indicated on the record that he would plead guilty to all the charges against him.
In August last year, he changed his mind and pleaded not guilty.
His Mercedes Benz was also fitted with false number plates.
Ramkisson-Kara says Moloi is charged with contravening the National Road Traffic Regulations Act of 2000 as well as public violence, theft and trespassing.
He is currently out on bail of R5 000 and will go on trial in March next year.
Moloi has to report to the Pinetown police station every Wednesday and Saturday and may not leave the Province.
