SIU Freezes R1.4m Pietermaritzburg Farm Linked To R13m UIF TERS Fraud Kingpin
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has successfully secured an interim preservation order from the Special Tribunal to freeze Ambleton Farm, a 3.5431-hectare property in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal.
The property is directly tied to an alleged R13 million Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (TERS) fraud syndicate.
The order stops the alleged syndicate kingpin, Nhlanipho Mngomezulu, and any connected entities from selling, leasing, transferring, or dealing with the farm while legal proceedings continue.
An SIU investigation uncovered a broader network that defrauded the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) and the Department of Employment and Labour of more than R148 million.
The syndicate used stolen personal data to claim TERS COVID-19 relief funds for fictitious employees, diverting money meant to support struggling workers during pandemic lockdowns.
Evidence indicates Mngomezulu orchestrated the fraud and recruited others to submit fake claims in exchange for a cut of the money.
His company, Lubelo Hlomuka Holdings (trading as SA Scrum Assembly), unlawfully pocketed R15.9 million.
The freezing of Ambleton Farm stems from a direct paper trail discovered by investigators that Flatmont Enterprise (Pty) Ltd fraudulently claimed TERS benefits for 659 fake employees, despite having only 45 legitimate workers.
On 21 January 2022, Flatmont received two TERS payouts totalling nearly R1.93 million.
Just three days later, R800,000 of that money was transferred to conveyancing attorneys to help fund the R1.4 million purchase of Ambleton Farm by Mngomezulu’s company.
This asset freeze is part of a larger ongoing clampdown against the syndicate since in December 2025, the Tribunal froze Mngomezulu’s bank accounts, vehicles, and properties in Durban and Pietermaritzburg.
It also froze vehicles and coastal properties belonging to co-conspirator Yolanda Mgobo and her partner, Hlalanathi Hopewell Mbangi.
In September 2026, the Hawks arrested syndicate members Jessica Tapu, Yolanda Mgobo, and Sipho Sokhela.
They face 40 counts of theft, 40 counts of fraud, and money laundering charges in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court.
The trio is currently out on R10,000 bail each and is scheduled to return to court on 3 December 2026.
The SIU has reiterated its commitment to recovering stolen public funds and holding corrupt individuals accountable.
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