Durban - Durban businesswoman Shauwn Mpisane can now apply to have her assets, which are valued at around R70 million, returned to her by the Assets Forfeiture Unit.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) on Wednesday withdrew charges against Mpisane because it couldn't prepare a forensic investigation by a court imposed deadline.

The so-called Durban tender queen and known for her flashy lifestyle faced more than 50 charges of fraud and forgery after she allegedly used forged documents to secure tenders valued at about R140 million from provincial government departments.

In order to the have her assets returned, Mpisane will have to go to court to lift the restraint order.

In the meantime her assets, including numerous luxury vehicles, remain under curatorship.

On Wednesday, Mpisane walked out of the courtroom with her husband to the sound of popping champagne corks and left in a white Rolls-Royce.

She still has two other criminal cases pending against her where she is accused of inflating business invoices to try and evade tax and interfering with a state witness. -Ewn