The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has obtained an order from the Special Tribunal to freeze the assets of a KwaZulu-Natal businesswoman. The assets are linked to the abuse of the Unemployment Insurance Fund’s Temporary Employee Relief Scheme (UIF TERS) during the COVID-19 pandemic, involving over R18 million in claims.
The order follows an SIU investigation, which found that Yolanda Nombuso Mgobo, the sole director of Yoluleko Trading (Pty) Ltd, benefited from proceeds linked to several entities. These include Ezogu Trading (Pty) Ltd, Nakomang Trading Enterprise CC, Ezikamshalaza Trading CC, Senzisipho (Pty) Ltd, and Amakhosana Contractors (Pty) Ltd. The SIU investigation uncovered that Mgobo received payments totalling R18,632,335 into both her personal and business accounts.
The probe further revealed that between 2020 and 2025, Mgobo utilised these proceeds for her personal benefit and that of her life partner, Mr Hlalanathi Hopewell Mbangi.
The preserved assets include several vehicles: a Hyundai Tucson acquired by Mgobo in November 2020; a Ford Ranger transferred from Mgobo to Mbangi in December 2023; and a Toyota Corolla registered by Mgobo in June 2025. Real estate assets were also targeted. On 16 April 2022, Mbangi purchased a property in Knightswood, Scottburgh, valued at R870,000. On 14 November 2022, Mgobo and Mbangi jointly acquired a property in Uvongo, on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, valued at R845,000. On that same day, Mbangi acquired two additional properties in Scottburgh, each valued at approximately R1 million. Special Tribunal Judge President Margaret Victor ordered that Mgobo, Mbangi, and Yoluleko Trading are prohibited from selling, transferring, hiding, or disposing of these specific vehicles and properties while investigations and hearings are ongoing.
This ensures the assets remain untouched until the Special Tribunal determines whether the agreements between the implicated parties and the Department of Labour were unlawful.
Although Mgobo did not personally submit the UIF TERS claims, she and her company received funds from the implicated entities, which were subsequently transferred to her personal accounts.
The SIU investigation revealed that between 2020 and 2023, Nakomang Trading Enterprise received approximately R19.2 million from the UIF, Ezikamshalaza Trading received R5.09 million, and Ezogu Trading received approximately R8.73 million. The probe further showed that between January and October 2022, Ezogu Trading made multiple payments to Mgobo totalling approximately R1.2 million. Between 6 April 2022 and 18 May 2023, Ezikamshalaza Trading made further payments to Mgobo. The final payment of R720,000 was made on 23 May 2023. By the end of that year, Ezikamshalaza Trading had paid a total of R1,698,720 to Mgobo.
While the assets are frozen, the individuals remain responsible for all associated costs, including levies, insurance, vehicle licensing, and other related expenses. The claims were found to be irregular and involved the use of a “ghost employee” database to access relief funds—a criminal offence. In accordance with the SIU Act, the SIU will refer the matter to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for criminal prosecution.
The referral will include charges of fraud and money laundering against Ezikamshalaza Trading, its directors, and all individuals or entities involved in enabling these unlawful activities. The SIU remains committed to recovering public funds lost through corruption and holding accountable those who exploited relief measures intended for vulnerable workers and businesses during the pandemic.
The SIU is also authorised to initiate civil proceedings in the High Court or Special Tribunal to recover financial losses suffered by the State.