SIU WELCOMES FREEZING OF LUXURY PROPERTY LINKED TO R532 MILLION EMS CONTRACT SCANDAL
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) welcomes the Special Tribunal’s order to freeze upmarket property in Meyersdal Nature Estate, Alberton, Gauteng, which is linked to businessman Thapelo Samuel Buthelezi. The order prohibits Buthelezi from selling, transferring, mortgaging, or otherwise dealing with the property.
In January of this year, the Tribunal also issued an interdict against the SIU concerning a 1,071-square-metre farm in Parys, Free State, registered in the name of a company owned by Buthelezi, known as Buthelezi EMS.
This follows a ruling by the Tribunal declaring the Free State Department of Health’s award of multi-million-rand tenders for inter-facility emergency medical services (EMS) to Buthelezi EMS and its affiliated companies unlawful, procedurally irregular, and unconstitutional.
The SIU instituted civil proceedings to review and set aside the irregular tenders and subsequent contracts after the provincial department paid R532,789,770.12 to four companies linked to Buthelezi.
Buthelezi’s non-compliance with the previous Tribunal order
On 5 May 2025, the Tribunal ordered the repayment of monies unlawfully paid to the entities linked to Buthelezi, including:
- R40,619,506.40 paid to Buthelezi One Stop Emergency Med;
- R4,739,819.04 paid to Buthelezi One Stop EMS;
- R305,196,897.00 paid to Buthelezi EMS; and
- R182,233,548.12 paid to B EMS.
The Tribunal further directed Buthelezi EMS to file, within 45 days of the order, audited statements detailing expenses incurred, income received, and net profits made under the tender and service contracts, together with supporting documentation. However, Buthelezi did not comply and submit the required documentation.
Despite a number of attempts and reminders by the SIU, Buthelezi failed to comply with the order. As a result, a judicial case management meeting was convened virtually on 12 September 2025 at the request of the SIU and chaired by the President of the Special Tribunal, Margaret Victor.
Due to ongoing non-compliance with the May 2025 order, the SIU initiated contempt proceedings against Buthelezi. In his affidavit, Buthelezi did not dispute the existence of the May 2025 order or his knowledge of it but sought to justify his non-compliance on the grounds of alleged financial constraints, lack of legal representation, and other practical difficulties.
On 23 January 2026, after Buthelezi failed to appear at the hearing, the Tribunal issued an interdict in favour of the SIU regarding a farm at 565 Parys in Ngwathe Local Municipality, Free State.
The order prohibited and restrained Buthelezi EMS, the registered owner of the farm, from selling, disposing of, alienating, transferring, mortgaging, pledging, or otherwise encumbering the immovable property.
The SIU investigation into Buthelezi EMS contracts was initiated through Proclamation 42 of 2019.
The Special Tribunal orders part of implementing the SIU investigation outcomes and
consequence management to recover financial losses suffered by State institutions because of
corruption or negligence.
The SIU is empowered by the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act 74 of 1996 to institute civil action in the Tribunal or the High Court to correct any wrongdoing it uncovers in its investigation.
The SIU is empowered to institute a civil action in the High Court or a Special Tribunal to remedy any wrongdoing uncovered during investigations into corruption, fraud, or maladministration.
In line with the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act 74 of 1996, the SIU refers any evidence pointing to criminal conduct it uncovers to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for further action.
